126 First Report on Economic Zoology. 



Instructions for the Fumigation of Stores with Bisulphide of Carbon. 



1. Obtain the best bisulphide of carbon. 



2. Eemember that it is both poisonous and highly inflammable ; 

 no light of any kind should go near it, nor should it l)e used where 

 electric wkes run, 



3. Dried goods are best placed in a large air-tight bin, and then 

 the bisulphide placed in saucers on the substance to be fumigated. 

 The bin should be closed and kept shut for four or five hours ; the 

 treated commodities should then be freely ventilated. 



4. The quantity to use is 1 lb. to every 1000 cubic feet of space. 

 If you are much troubled with insects in stores it would be well 



worth having large bins (air-tight) made for the treatment. The 

 vapour given off is heavier than air, and hence penetrates into the 

 stuff below. 



As there may be eggs (which I do not think are affected), a second 

 fumigation two weeks later would be advisable. 



You want to pour the bisulphide out rapidly, so as not to inhale 

 much of the fumes ; a small quantity breathed in will not affect one, 

 but it is well to be very careful. 



Treatment in bins is far safer and better than fumigating the 

 whole room, which may be well cleaned out by scrubbing with hot. 

 soft-soap and water. 



Hydrocyanic Acid Gas. 



The fumes of this gas are also deadly poisonous to all animal life,, 

 with the exception, it seems, of Mites or Acari. It is safer in one way 

 to use than the former, owing to its not being inflammable. 



It is formed by the mixture of (1) cyanide of potassium; (2) 

 sulphuric acid ; and (3) water. 



The fumes do not harm substances for food ; but in applying this, 

 remedy you must be careful the men do not breathe the fumes. 

 Eooms can be fumigated, and the stores in bulk, in bins, as before. 

 The following rules should be remembered : — 



(1) Cyanide of potassium {a) and the fumes when mixed with 

 sulphuric acid (l) are very poisonous. Therefore do not breathe the 

 latter. 



(2) Use the following proportions : — 



2 ozs. of cyanide, 

 4 ozs. of sulphuric acid, 

 7 ozs. of water, 

 for every 1,000 cubic feet to be fumigated. 



