Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-05-20
TIME TO GET BUSY
IN WARFARE ON FLY
Some of the Poisons That Slay
Their Thousands and How
to Safely Use Them.
BY JOHN W. DUKE
Estate COMMISSIONER

Inc ulne Tor Il vigorous fly cam
palgn Is now. In connection with a
lily campaign IL should also bc re-
membered that some of the most ef-
fective work in getting rid of flies
consists OF cleaning up the places in
which they are likely TO breed. The
warm weather is getting under way
and the number of flies increasing
The flies now will be responsible for
many others a few weeks alter. Each
fly killed now will mean thousands
less during the summer.
The cleaning up Of TIE possible
breeding places for flies is to a certain
extent a community task, altho much
can be accomplished by individual ef-
fort. In addition to this the individual
cilzen is most interested in the best
methods for getting rid. Of those flies
which come to maturity and despite
screens and other precautions make
their way into the house. For this
purpose three methods are available
-poisonigg trapping and "swatting".
Trapping either In mechanical traps
or upon fly paper accompllshes
something, but is open to the objection
that IL is unsightly and more or less
of a nuisance. The results accom-
plished by the swatter should not be
deprecated-but they are accompa-
incd by a maximum of effort and
should be supplemented I'm other
ways. The most effectual and practi-
cal of these other methods Is the poi
soning OF the flies.
Safety for the Children.
Considerable investigation has been
made into the subject of poisoning
lies. II was necessary TO find poisons
which would be effectual. yet which
would not be dangerous to use about
the ordinary household, which is like
~ to contain children. OF the many
substances investigated only two were
found to contain the requisite proper
tiec Of safety and fficiency-formal-
dehyde and sodium salirylate.
1t has been found that the best re
suits from formaldehyde are obtained
with n solution containing / per cent
of the actual formaldehyde. or . y per
cent of the 40 per cent solution, which
is the form in which II is generally
sold. Concentrations greater or less
than this are less efficient. Sodium
salicylate is n comparatively recent fly
poison. In a l per cent solution ii IS
slightly less efficient than formalde-
hyde but IL possesses certain marked
advantages, especially for household
uses. It is a less Objectionable sub
stance TO have about the house in con-
centrated form, is a solid which does
not lose its strength, and in the pre-
paration of the solution il is not Of so
great importance that the exact
strength recommended be adhered TO.
Furthermore II lends itself TO prepara-
ton and sale in the form of papers I'm
much the same way that arsenic
papers are now put up thus making
the obtaining and preparation easier
for the average individual. Like
fgrnNp11p hNIa ~ lnac nf
fiCiency at lower temperatures nearly
so rapidly as do the arsenic prepara-
tions.
How to Use Poison.
For household purposes these solu-
tons may be prepared by the addition
of three teaspoonfuls or either the 40
per cent solution of formaldehyde
found on the market or the powdered
sodium Salicylate to a pint of water.
Nearly fill a glass tumbler with the
solution, place over this piece of
blotting paper cut to circular form and
somewhat larger In diameter than the
tumbler, and over this invort saucer.
Invert the whole device and insert
match or toothpick under the edge Of
the tumbler to allow access of air
The blotting paper will remain in the
proper moist condition until the en-
tire contents of the tumbler have been
used and the strength OF the formal
dehyde solution VIII be maintained
little sugar sprinkled upon the
paper will increase the attractiveness
of the poison for the flies. Either OF
these preparations may be safely used
where there are young children, altho
the addition Of sugar is not recon-
mended in such cases. The formaJde-
hyde, unlike arsenic preparations has
an unpleasant taste, and in the CON
centrations recommended a harmful
dose could hardly be taken. No dan
gerous effects would result from the
consumption of a considerable guam
titV of tho salicVlate