The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-06-08


Remedies and Preventives Agains
Mosquitoes" and is by L. o. Howard
Phi D., Of the Bureau of Entomology
The following are portions of the bul
letin:
Protection from Bites.
Spirits of camphor rubbed upon tn,
face and hands or few drops on tn,
pillow at night will keep mosquitoes
away for a time, and this is also {
well-known property of oil of penny
royal Neither of these substances is
durable; that is to say, single appli
cation will not last through the night
Oil of peppermint, lemon juice, and
vinegar have all been recommended
while oil of tar has been used in re
gions where mosquitoes are especially
abundant. Oil of citronella is one of
the best substances to be used in this
way. The odor is Objectionable to some
people, but not to many, and it is eff
ficient in keeping away mosquitoes for
several hours. The best mixture tried
by the writer was sent to him by Mr..
c. A. Nash of New York, and is as fol-
lows:
Oil Of citrOnella. -. 1 ounce.
Spirits of camphor. ounce.
Oil of cedar. ... u ounce.
Ordinarily few drops on a bath
towel hung over the head of the bed
will keep the common house mosuui-
toes away. Where they are very
abundant and persistent, few drops
rubbed on the face and hands will suf-
flee. Even this mixture, however, loses
its efficacy toward the close of a long
night. 1t is the habit sof the yellow
fever mosquito, Aedes (Stegomyia)
calopus Meig., to begin to bite at day
light. BY that time the average per-
son is sleeping very soundly, and the
effects of the mixture will usually have
largely passed away. 1t follows that
in the Southern States where this mos
quito occurs these protective mixtures
oA nv ohppODCu W NC DIS SllSCllN6 DIS
they are in the North. AS a matter of
fact, however, this last mixture, could
it be applied shortly before dawn,
would be as effective as under other
circumstances.
A mixture recommended by Mr.. E.
H. Cane of New York is as follows:
CASTOR OIL ...'...... L ounce.
Alcohol .......... 1 ounce.
Oil of lavender. .... 1 ounce.
This mixture was prepared for the
purpose Of avoiding the odor of the
oil of citronella.
Oscar Samostz of Austin, Tex, rec
ommends the following formula:
Oil of citronella. -. 1 ounce.
Liquid vaseline $50. ounces.
This mixture greatly retards the
evaporation of the oil Of citronella. Mr..
B. A. Reynolds has used successfully
in New Orleans 20 minims of oil OF
citronella to the ounce of vaseline' or
lanolin.
A per cent solution of sulphate OF
potash has been recommended, as also
the oil of cassia. Pure kerosene has
also been used extensively in the Phil
ippines,
Screens and canoples.
Such obvious measures as the
screening of houses, the use of netting
for beds, and the wearing of wells and
gloves after nightfall in badly infested
regions need no detailed consideration.
Screening of houses cannot be too
carefully done, and adjustable, folding,
or sliding window and door screens
seem never to be tight; even with
Violated screens there are often OPP
portunities for mosquitoes to enter;
constant care and vigilance alone will
prevent this. In certain seasons in
mosquito regions mosquitoes will at
tempt to make their way through
screens and are often able to
do So When they are very numerous,
wire screens should be painted lightly
with kerosene or Oil of citronella.
With bed canopies there should be
ample material to admit of a perfect
folding of the canopy under the mat '
tress, and the greatest care should be
taken to keep the fabric well mended:
1t often happens in mosquito regions {
that little care is taken of the bed net
tings in the poorer hotels, and it is '
necessary for perfect protection that {
a traveller in the Southern States {
should carry with him pocket house
wife" and should carefully examine
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