Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1945-09-20

DOT, much publicized insecticide,
saved thousands of lives of our
fighting men and civilians in coun-
tries where our operations were ex-
tended, but it is not the panacea
that we would like to believe
The irony Of the story Is that 1t
was discovered nearly seventy years
ago by a German chemist named
Zeidler. but was almost forgotten
until rediscovered during the pres
ent war by DR.. Paul Muller and DIR.
Paul Lauger. These Swiss scien-
lists asserted recently, upon their
arrival in America, that with proper
control, flies, mosquitoes and other
harmful insects can be eliminated
entirely from the United States.
But along with these insects would
go our pollen carrying insects, bees
and other beneficial friends of man.
kind, also perhaps our birds and
fish. Gone also would be many
plants and trees that depend upon
insects for polinization. AS they
point out it is a job for entomology
lists, not laymen.
DOT has been made available to
the public in limited amounts. There
will soon be sufficient supply to
meet every demand. Manufacturers
of the products, whether in liquid
or powder form are careful to give
complete instructions as to it's ap-
plication, which must be followed.
Scientists Tell of
Effective DOT Use
Despite it's inherent toxicity, DOT
in the desired insecticidal concentra-
tons in air is of such low order that
it will not cause injurious effects in
humans, DR.. Paul A. Neal, chief of
the research section of the division
of industrial hygiene Of the o. S.
Public Health service has reported.
1t was this knowledge that made it
advisable to spray from the air the
Jones Beach area on Long Island,
N. Y, and part of the city Of Rock
ford, Illinois. In both cases the pur-
pose was to control insects, Jones
beach to kill sand fieas and Rock
ford to kill polio-carrying flies, be-
ieved to have been the direct cause
for the serious infanile paralysis
outbreak in many sections.
1t. Col. A. L. Ahnfeldt, U. S. sur
geon generals office, after study
of results secured in the army, re-
ports: "In peace time DOT may
well change the destiny Of the
oortb,c nopu1of;or 0,1~ roc+rors
world will no longer be scourged by
typhus and malaria and other in
sect borne diseases. DOT is not a
cure-all, but in the perpetual war
between humans and disease, DOT
is one of the most effective weapons
yet discovered by man."
"DDT will be to preventive medi-
cine what Listers discovery of anti
septic was to surgery and should
close the door forever on those
diseases which are companions Of
death dealing insects"
In the field Of agriculture the re-
suits have been far from disappoint-
ing. Remarkable results have been
obtained by some Of it's application,
while in others the results were
either negative, incomplete, or its
use not recommended due to effect
on birds and other insects.
Will Prove Boon To *: k
Hard Worked Farmer
While agricultural use Of DOT
must still be considered In its ex-
detrimental state, reliable and COM
plete tests at various state expert
ment stations have proved that it is
the best insecticide now on the mar
ket for the control of the apples
most destructive pest, the cooling
moth.
It will kill Japanese beetle adults,
while current remedies are based
entirely upon their repelling value.
The grape leafhopper and other
leafhoppers are highly susceptible
to DOT and excellent results have
been obtained with it against Orien-
tai fruit moth. 1t also has proved
effective against apple red bug, pear
thrips, grape berry moth, fruit tree