THE COMMON BEDBUG 119 



the mercuric chloride has more or less corrosive effect 

 when it comes in actual contact with the insect. 



Boiling water poured over the parts of a bedstead that 

 have been carried where they may be liberally treated 

 will kill both eggs and bugs. Of course, boiling water 

 should not be used on highly polished and varnished 

 furniture. 



Sulfur has been used with success by some. Person- 

 ally, the author has not found the burning of sulfur 

 effective, but it seems now that not enough was used. 

 Not less than two pounds to every thousand cubic feet 

 of space should be burned and the room should be 

 tightly closed for several hours. The most effective 

 and, at the same time, most economical method of clos- 

 ing the cracks about windows, transoms, and doors, is to 

 tear old newspapers into narrow strips and soak these 

 thoroughly in water. When thoroughly soaked, these 

 strips may be quickly applied over the cracks and will 

 stick there closely for several hours. Fireplaces, chimney 

 holes and other large openings should be closed with old 

 quilts, sacks, or anything convenient. 



The sulfur may be burned by putting it in an old 

 kettle, baking pan, or similar dish that is not held together 

 with solder, and setting it on brick or in a pan of cold 

 ashes to keep it from burning the floor. A teacupful of 

 wood alcohol poured directly into two pounds of sulfur 

 and then lighted will serve to burn the sulfur completely 

 and readily. The sulfur may be burned on live coals 

 in an ash-pan. 



It must be remembered that sulfur fumes bleach 

 certain colors in wallpapers and fabrics and tarnish metals 

 of various sorts. For these reasons, its use is objectionable. 



