Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-11
This and That
By Charles Z. Trace,peH.

Acute infestations by feas are diff
ferent from what may be called normal
infestations. '-e'es
In the latter, a few fieas will hop of
animal pets onto the floor and some
fieas will get on ankles and feet Of
humans.
But when there is a real infestation,
the floors and coverings are coated with
fieas. The pests swarm at all times Of
day and night, even attacking sleepers
in beds. n
When this state of infestation has
been allowed to occur, the best thing
to do is to call In professional extermi-
majors.
1t is a real job, and the amateur Is
at the mercy both of the fleas and
friendly advice. most of it not very good.
1t is one thing to cope with few
f1eas and an entirely different matter
to fight millions Of them.
Often when the real infestation comes
the house must be closed up for at least
q week.
This sad state Of affairs arises when
the ajority of the persons in the house
are immune to flea bits.
They do not suffer, therefore they
tend to laugh at those who do. In this
way nothing is done, so that the heas
get chance to get started. and In time
simply swarm over the place.
White socks and stockings are flea ia
vorites. Any one wearing them will no
tice fleas jumping up on them, as they
walk through room where the insects
exist.
Taking up rugs and carpets helps
some, but many eggs are harbored in
cracks in floor boards
Another place feas lay their eggs is
in radiators. One of the first things
to be done, in fighting real epidemic.
is to clean between all the radiator coils
in the most thorough manner.
Insect sprays and powders are good
especially at the beginning. If one
would spray every day, leaving the
rooms closed for at least an hour, and
directing the spray downward, not up
ward, much could be done.
In between, flea powders are good, but
an hour is not long enough for them to
be down. They should be allowed to
remain in place at least "a hours, after
which they may be taken up with a
vacuum sweeper.
A straight vacuuming is not what is
needed. All the attachments must come
into play, using those which get into
cracks along the Dashboard and into
crevices in furniture.
The different times of Matching of the
flea eggs complicate the problem.
The eggs are very resistant. They
have the ability to go months in dor
mant state. Dust and hairs make excel
lent Matching mediums.
The many eggs, and their different
Matching times make necessary the
most thorough and consistent measures
to eradicate them.
Moth flakes of various kinds must
be spread or 8 inches deep all over
the house, in extreme cases, and the
house vacated and shut up for at least
a week Even the stairs must be covered.
Even then, sometimes, the process
must be repeated several times, so ter
rible is real infestation.
Cleaning and waxing the floor and
sending all rugs to the cleaners will be
a first step in extreme infestations.
Nothing much can be done, however,
as long as ea-bearing animals are al
lowed to run without attention.
What fools some people is that they
do not understand that just one ami
NAL and that dearly beloved one,
can cause these deep infestations July
and August are the worst flea months.
Sometimes it will be necessary to send
the dog or cat away before any real
improvement can be made.
Even households without pets can
be infested, by heas being brought in
on the ankles and feet OF persons whom
they like to bit. There Is no joke
about this matter, although there seems
to be human tendency to try TO make
It such on the part Of some parsons.