Evening star., 1926-10-24

Recently the Chemical Warfare Serv-
ice was asked to cooperate with the
Quartermaster Corps in aiding in the
funnigation of certain materials which
were in danger of Being completely
destroyed by moths. Every housewife
knows the constant fear that during
the Summer months the Winter
clothing or .woolen blankets may be
attacked by these pests. 1t is such
tragedy to. find that favorite coat
or bed covering has been ruined by
moths.
The Army has the same worry,
only on much larger scale than that
Of the ordinary householder. II moths
or other destructive pests get firm
foothold in a warehouse. 1t means A
tremendous loss to Uncle Sam. 1t may
mount into the hundreds of thousa nds
of dollars. 1t therefore behooves those
intrusted with the care and storage
of Government materials to take
every possible precaution.
While many things have been found
to destroy the adult moth, 1t Is very
difficult to kill the worm or larva.
There is one thing that will do this,
although it is very dangerous to use
unless the person using it is expert
enced. Hydrocyanic gas has been used
~
it is particularly dangerous because
1t is practically odorless. and a person
working with it might be overcome
without warning. The Chemical War
Service, however, has devised
method of combining 1t with cyanogen
chloride, which is a vigorous lachry-
mator. This tear gas gives sufficient
warning for the operator to don
mask or get out before it is too late.
In other words. when the tears begin
to come it is time to leave.
1t Is interesting to note some of the
instances where this cyanogen chloride
gas mixture has been successfully used
to destroy. not only moths. but bed
bugs, cOckroaches. -four weevils, and
rodents. At Jeffersonville. Ind, the
stock of cloth. felt, saddles. sheep
skins blankets and other articles of
Army equipment maintained at the
Quartermast Inteltnediate Depot
there we're treated with this gas.
The building was made as air-tisht
as possible and care was taken that
no unauthorized person should remain
in 1t. Those conducting the actual ex
pertinent were equipped with
special type of gas mask devised by
the Chemical Warfare Service and
instructed in it's use. 1t was so
arranged that each worker was kept in
full sight of at least one other. man
who was prepared to go to his as
sistance in the event he showed any
indication of being affected by the gas.
Results Wholly Satisfactory.
The building was kept closed for "a
hours, and then the gas gradually
released. There was no trace of the
gas a few hours after the chambers
were opened. There was no effect
upon the color of the fabrics and the
leather saddles were apparently un-
damaged A careful examination
revealed no living moths or larvae. In
order to make certain of the latter, an
attempt was made to incubate some
OF the larvae, but without success.
In another instance there was
fire station. the second floor Of which
was used for quarters. This building
was infested with cockroaches. The
first foor contained room, the
second 10 rooms. halls and a
large closet. Under one quarter of
the building there was a basemen Mt
For the fumigation OF this structure
twenty 3-gallon crooks were used In
the basement on the first. floor
and IS on the second floor. Each
Of them contained 1900 cubic cent?
meters Of water and 800 cubic cent?
meters of commercial hydrochloric
acid. Three charges of s ounces
sodium cyanide and 3 ounces sodium
chlorate were used in each crock.
All the windows and outside doors
were closed and the generators
started at am. After five hours
windows and dors were opened and
Is minutes later the building was
free of gas. A large number of dead
cockroaches was found. and also some
hedbugs, although persons living In
the building had not noticed any of
the latter before that time. None of
the furnishings 'of the rooms had been
affected by the gas, nor had the silver
ware. The nickel and brass fittings.
however, were tarnished.
The Public Health Service has used
cyanoeen choloride gas mixture as the
regular gas for fumigation purposes
on ships, and has issued accordingly a
very strict set Of regulations. These
provide that a written statement must
be obtained from the master Of the
vessel or his representative that the
vessel is ready for fumigation, and
that all Of the crew, personnel, pas
sengers or others have been accounted
for as not being in or on the vessel
except those specifically authorized
by the medical officer or fumigator in
the fumisation.
All employees of the Public Health
Service who are engaged. in the
fumigation Of vessels With cyanoken
chloride gas are required to take
course Of instruction In the proper
use and care of gas maAks.
Experiments have also been made