9t ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



FUMIGATION WITH BISULPHIDE OF OAKBON FOR THE COMPLETE AND 

 RAPID DESTRUCTION OF THE INSECTS WHICH ATTACK HERBAR- 

 IUM SPECIMENS, FURS, WOOLLENS, ETC. 



By H. or Buvsson, Bkout Verxet, France. 



The fumii^ating chest tor use with Insulpliido of oirboii has been employed for many 

 years in the preservation of unpoisoned herbaria, which would infallibly be devoured 

 without this annual or biennial precaution. These fumigations may render great 

 service in the preservation of other objects more useful than the specimens of a lierbarium. 

 I shall describe, therefore, the tirst method used, and every one will know liow to apply 

 it to his own needs. 



DESCRirTION OK FuMKiATlNG CnEST. 



It is in ]ivim;iple a rectangular box of light wood, lined with thin zinc, wiiich is care- 

 fully soldered at all joints. Around the edge of the box, inside, runs a little gutter of 

 zinc, carefully soldered. This gutter is tilled with water and serves to make a water seal 

 by means of the tlange of the lid, which is also covered with zinc and carries all around a 

 strip of the metal bent at right angles, and long enough to plunge into the Avater in the 

 gutter. In this way the box is hermetically sealed and the vapors of the bisulphide 

 cannot possibly escape from it. 



Use IX THE Preservation of Herbaria. 



Botanists now generally poison their specimens, and the fumigating box is seldom 

 used. Nevertheless it has served me well and I still resort to it from time to time, to 

 preserve such plants as I have not time to submit to the action of arse lic in alcohol or to 

 bichloride of mercury. 



The process in question is based upon the great volatility of bisulphide of carbon at 

 ovdinary piessure and moderate temperature. The penetration of its vapor is so ctu 

 siderabfe that we have only ti pile up in the chest the mounting sheets of the herbarium, 

 one above the other, in order to fumigate them. They are jienetrated to the very centre, 

 and eggs, larv;>?, and perlect insects, Anobium or Attagenus, are killed. Space should be 

 left and right of the pile for the vessels containing the bisulphide. Those which I use are 

 of zinc and measure 10cm. long, 6cm. wide, and 9cm. deep. There is no risk in prolong- 

 ing the fumi3;ation ; on the contrary there is but the greater certainty of its being 

 efficacious. Five or six days will be time enough. No limit need be set to the quantity 

 of bisulphide used ; what is not evaporated will serve for a new charge. 



The disagreeable odour of bisulphide of carbon is not persistent ; it is not even neces- 

 sary to spread open the mounting sheets ; it is only necessary to expose them, unopened, 

 to the air. I would call attention, however, to one very nece.<sary precaution, if accidents 

 are to be avoided. The vapor of bisulphide is very inflammable, and the chest must, 

 therefore, be set in a safe place and not opened near a tire or any tlame whatever. It 

 would be risky, for example, to unpack the chest in the evening while holding a lamp in 

 the hand. 



As the odor of bisulphide is very disagreeable and may cause discomfort to some 

 persons, all these operations should be performed in an attic or in an apartment of which 

 the windows may be left open as long as necessary. 



Preservation of Furs and Woollens. 



The same process may be used in the preservation of clothing in clothing establish- 

 ments, civil or military, where Tinea and Attagenus sometimes cause such ravages. 

 Special arrangements may be adopted in establishing fumigating chests or rooms to avoid 

 the settling due to weight and to facilitate the penetration of the gas. 



