The Washington times., 1917-01-18
POPULAR MEDICINE
BYDR. HIRSHBERG
Intelligent Observation of Rules
of Hygiene viii De-
crease Illness.
BY DIR. LEONARD X. HIRsHBERG.

"Cockroaches," said a wag, 1--WE
have ever with u.s." The vigilant and
industrious housewife will dispute
this. but, nevertheless, there are cock
reaches and cockroaches. Some are
tall, some are short, some are slim,
some are fat, and the great, big,
black water reaches" may be an
inch or more long and half as wide.
Diksect one of these bugs and place
its liver and its lights under the mi
croscope and you may suffer a night
mare at the sight Of the flora and
fauna, bacteria and microbes, vegeta-
tion and animalcules there accumu-
lated.
The cockroach is to be regarded as
a conveyer of filth and disease. With
this fact in view, experiments have
been made to find some method by
which the housekeeper can easily de-
.stroy this dangerous pest. These ex-
periments covered q wide range OF
things. Fragrant oils, powders, pol
sons, tars, salt and other chemicals
were used.
Arsenic, which is so helpful in the
destruction of vermin and rodents, did
more: tolerant of arsenic than babies
ere of politicians.
Respiratory Poison Best.
The cockroach was observed to be
very sensitive to irritants in the form
of odors, fumes and gases. Phosphor-
lied oils and poisons were, therefore,
effective in the assault upon these
pests.
1t is the lungs of the cockroach
which are most open to assault by in
secticides. Investigations show that q
number Of things quickly kill cock
reaches by inhalation.
The. point then was to find some
sort of respiratory poison which
would, irritate the insect enough to
drive 1t away, or kill the mean lit
tie culprit. and yet not be at all dan
gerous to the windpipe of humans.
Poison gas" or bromine vapor was
found to be the most effective and
active of such substances. Unluckily,
as you read in the European war re-
ports, It is not at all innocuous or in
nocent, but works great havoc upon
man. Moreover, II Is very costly.
Similarly, to burn sulphur, while
most successful method, Is In itself
dangerous. Yet in close offices and
factories this is q good way to get
rid OF the vermin.
Volatile Oils Valuable.
In the home the most practical as
well as available method was reveal
ed in the employment of beechwood
tar or cresote or wood naphtha- This
at night and renewed regularly for
effect and keep the bugs away.
There are several other effective
ways for good riddance to this bad
rubbish" such as the coal tar and
paraffin oils. These, however, are
inflammable.
Oil of citronelia Is said~to be more
useful in exercising cockroaches than
In warding on the bites Of misquotoes.
Oils of thyme, orange rosemary,
and eucalyptus are all worth a trial
Since these oils all act by their, irri-
tant odors II Is the better plan to
sprinkle them upon cotton or cloth to
make their vapors last longer.
The fact that tar paper. moth balls.
camphor and cedar wood have been
used for generations to keep away
disease, moths, and otner insects
which hide in clothing. Is now In the
light of these researches of greater
than ever.
1t Is also a feather in the cap OF
those superstitious people who per-
sisted. in spite OF heapeI-up ridicule,
to wear camphor bags, mustard sacs,
onion pads and assafoetida around
their necks and in their shoes to safe
guard them from sickness. Science al
last explains with logic and reason
what those faithful adherents did
bIindIy on the altar OF superstition. I.