Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-10-21

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture)
There's no disgrace in finding a bed
bug; the disgrace lies in keeping it.
Somewhere back in the dim ages, a
housekeeper-possibly Mrs. Noah
gave utterance to the above. Perhaps
Noah was so literal minded, being
man, as to think the injunction to take
into the ark pair of every living crea-
ture included bedbugs, too, and his
wife, when she laid down what was to
be forever after a household proverb,
had just found them. Whether the
originator of the phrase was Mrs, Noah
or the Queen of Sheba-she is said
to have been a fussy housekeeper-
doesn't matter. Generations of women
since have comforted themselves by re-
peating it when they discovered the
pest in their homes and when anguish
filled their souls.
Bugs Gain Entrance Easily.
The presence of the bedbug in the
house Is not necessarily an indication
of neglect or carelessness, for this in
sect may gain access in spite of the
adoption of all reasonable precautions.
| Trunks, wraps, and bags of travellers,
and baskets of laundry may furnish
means of transportation for the pest.
| Unfortunately, too, 1t is quite capable
| of migrating from one house to anoth-
| er, and will often continue to go from
| an adjoining house sometimes for a
| period of several months, gaining ac-
| ly likely to take place when the human
| inhabitants of the house leave 1T.
! When it's usual source of food departs,
the migratory instinct of the bedbug
is developed, and, escaping through
windows, it passes along walls, water
| pipes, or cutters, and thus gains en-
trance to adjoining houses. In these
or other ways anyone's premises may
be temporarily invaded.
The presence of the bedbug in hous-
es, both from the standpoint of per-
sonal comfort and the possible carriage
| of disease, is not to be lightly consid-
cred, and the failure on the part of
anyone to institute immediate efforts
of eradication will warrant the odium
which is properly attached to buggy"
premises.
The bedbug is normally nocturnal
In habits and displays certain de-
gree of wariness, caution, and intelli-
ing the day. Under the stress of hun
ger, however, it will emerge from its
place of concealment liz well-lighted
room at night, so that under such cir
cumstances keeping the gas or electric
light burning is not complete protec-
ton. 1t usually leaves its victim as
soon as it has become engorged with
blood and retires to its normal place
of concealment, either in cracks in the
bedstead, especially If the latter be
one of the wooden variety, or behind
wainscoting, or under loose wall paper.
IT thrives particularly in filthy apart
ments and in old houses which are full
of cracks and crevices, in which it can
conceal itself beyond easy reach.
The bite of the bedbug is decidedly
poisonous to some individuals, result
ing in a slight-swelling and disagree
able inflammation. To allay the irri-
cotton peroxide of hydrogen or dioxy-
gan may be used with good results. In
common with other insects which at
tack man and warm-blooded animals,
It is entirely possible for bedbug to
transmit contagious human diseases.
How to Get Rid of Them.
Undoubtedly the most efficient rem
edy for the bedbGg is to fumigate the
infested house or rooms with hydro
cyanic-acid gas. A bulletin giving d.
rections for such fumigation has been
issued by the department Of agricul-
tnre
The fumes of burning sulphur are
also a very efficient means of control
where the conditions are such that this
method can be used. 1t readily de
stroys insects in all stages, including
the egg. There is some risk of injury
to household fabrics, furnishings. and
wall papers from the strong bleaching
quality of sulphur fumes. The dan
ger will be somewhat diminished If the
fumigation can be done at time wher
the room or house is thoroughly dried
out, as in winter by a furnace or Other
heating system. Further precautions
should be taken by removing metal
lie surfaces from the room or protect
Ing them with coat of vaseline. Tive
pounds of sulphur are recommended
for each 1000 cubic feet of space and
1 e -
treatment for at least I've or six hour
or preferably for "a hours. Thorough
going precautions must be taken to pre-