COMBATING ADULT MOSQUITOES 71 



experience, together with that of other observers, docs 

 not credit the castor-oil plant nor the Eucalyptus tree 

 with deterrent properties ; the same seems to hold 

 true of the chinaberry tree. 



Fumigants. -- Knowing that mosquitoes often hiber- 

 nate in great swarms in basements of buildings and 

 other favorable situations, it becomes necessary to 

 destroy them in order to prevent them from propagating 

 in the spring of the year. A number of very satis- 

 factory fumigating agents may be mentioned, such as 

 pyrethrum powder, sulphur dioxid, "jimpson" weed, 

 and pyrofume (a turpentine by-product). 



Mosquito Bites. -- Mosquito bites, while perhaps 

 never serious in themselves, may lead to blood poison- 

 ing through scratching with the finger nails in the 

 attempt to relieve the irritation, often intense. To 

 relieve this irritation any one of the following may be 

 applied, viz. : ammonia, glycerine, alcohol, or iodine, 

 and according to Howard the most satisfactory remedy 

 known to him is the application of moist toilet soap. 

 The latter also mentions touching the puncture with 

 a lump of indigo as affording instant relief, as also 

 touching the parts with naphthaline moth balls. 



