118 Tivo Experiments in Ho}ise Fumigation 



through the boards and spread over the house. As in the other cases, 

 partial treatment had driven thein from room to room. 



Fumigation was done as before but using tetrachlorethane instead 

 of carbon bisulphide. 12 lbs. of 130 per cent, sodium cyanide was used, 

 and 12 lbs. of tetrachlorethane. The cyanide was not weighed but 

 divided by eye, as it was in lumps, and 10 lots were used in the house, 

 two small lots in the outside coal cellar and privy. This house was only 

 semi-detached and I feared gas escape to the next house : but the builder 

 assured me this was impossible as there was no communication of any sort. 



The fumigation was done with the aid of Mr Scott and Mr Lloyd: 

 forty-eight hours later I visited the house, was able to go straight in 

 and could detect no smell except that of tetrachlorethane when I re- 

 moved the paper from the outside ventilators leading from the space 

 under the ground floor. There was no complaint from neighbours, no 

 damage to property. The occupiers who were away, returned and have 

 now reported as follows : the house is completely cleared but reinfection 

 has been found to be occurring at a dormer window where insects have 

 been found coming in. This spot has been treated with a miscible wood 

 creosote and varnish and reinfection has ceased. There has been no 

 reinfection from the floors at all and no live insects seen in the house. 

 The cost of treatment was : 



2 2 



In this case, no particular preparation was made except to open up 

 cupboards, etc. : no damage of any kind was done to anything in the 

 house and the owners are completely satisfied. 



In both cases I attribute great weight to the opinion of the lady of 

 the house, utterly distracted and weary of the plague : and in both cases 

 residence in the house after treatment has not been followed by a 

 resumption of the attack. 



It is difficult to get cases of this sort but I am satisfied that fumigation 

 with hydrocyanic acid with carbon bisulphide or tetrachlorethane is a 

 feasible and effective method even in a town, provided reasonable pre- 

 cautions are taken. I imagine this fumigation would be effective 

 against e^ery form of insect life except possibly the bed-bug but a house 

 so infected has not been available. 



