PYROFUME 371 



" 4. In the minds of intelligent operators, and used according to the methods 

 employed by us, it ranks next to sulphur as an insecticide in practical 

 fumigation. 



" 5. Culicide vaporizes and later cools, condensing on exposed surfaces again 

 as it cools. Whether in this way it injures articles of gilt and the like was not 

 investigated. In practical work the only articles removed from rooms were 

 food stuffs and animal pets and no complaint of injury was received. It gradu- 

 ally evaporates, leaving a persistent, though not disagreeable, odor. 



" As to the cost with the present high prices of the ingredients of Culicide, 

 the cost of fumigating a room with 4 ounces to 1000 cubic feet is 16 cents per 

 1000 cubic feet, as compared with sulphur of 7 cents, and pyrethrum of 50 

 cents, using 2 pounds of each of the latter per 1000 cubic feet. The estimate 

 does not take into consideration the alcohol used to evaporate the Culicide, but 

 this is not much more, if any, than that used to ignite pyrethrum or sulphur 

 pots. A further saving in favor of Culicide is that the apparatus can be easily 

 carried in the hands from place to place. Had sulphur been used in the in- 

 stances cited a wagon would have been necessary to transport the materials, 

 which were, in the case of Culicide, conveyed in street cars. The gang would 

 have had to be larger to move the many articles from a house necessary to be 

 removed in sulphur fumigation, to say nothing of the larger amount of pasting 

 to be done. Likewise at the end of the fumigation the time required to remove 

 apparatus from the room is much less. For this and other reasons, if the cost 

 of the labor is counted, I do not believe Culicide is much more expensive than 

 sulphur, and if the cost of the articles damaged by sulphur is considered, the 

 difference would be in favor of Culicide." 



This compound is known also by the name of camphor-phenol. Under this 

 name it has been experimented with by Passed Assistant Surgeon Francis. His 

 results, derived from a long series of tests with large numbers of mosquitoes, 

 indicate that it is unsatisfactory as a culicide. These were published in Public 

 Health Reports, vol. 22, no. 13, pages 346 to 348 (March 29, 1907). It was 

 found that the fumes penetrated very poorly and that large amounts of the com- 

 pound were necessary to obtain results. Evaporated in amounts of from 4 to 10 

 ounces per 1000 cubic feet of space it proved inefficient. When 8 ounces to 1000 

 cubic feet of space were evaporated it softened the varnish on furniture, so that 

 articles placed upon it adhered and were ruined. Furthermore the substance is 

 rather expensive to be used in large enough quantities to be effective. 



PYROFUME. 



Dr. J. H. McCormack, of Mobile, Alabama, has discovered that Pyrofume, 

 derived by a fractional distillation from pine wood, as a by-product in the manu- 

 facture of turpentine, is a valuable and good fumigant for mosquitoes. It is a 

 clear liquid of a straw color, has a pungent taste, and the odor of pine woods. 

 It is said to be harmless to mucous membranes, skin, fabrics, colors, polished 

 metal and painted wood work. A report of the experiments with this substance 

 by Passed Assistant Surgeon Francis, of the U. S. Public Health and Marine- 

 Hospital Service, is published in Public Health Reports, Jime 29, 1906, vol. xxi, 

 'No. 26, pp. 711, 712. A summary of Dr. Francis's experimental work follows : 



"1. As compared with sulphur, pyrofume stands on an equal footing in price. 

 " 2. Whereas the Federal regulations require two hours exposure to sulphur, 

 pyrofume is efficient against mosquitoes in one hour. 



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