4 FARMERS’ BULLETIN 626. 
if such an examination shows the insect to have made its appearance, 
a good though somewhat laborious remedy consists in laying a damp 
cloth smoothly over the suspected spot of the carpet and ironing it 
with a hot iron. The steam thus generated will pass through the 
carpet and kill the insects immediately beneath it. 
BISULPHID OF CARBON. 
An effective method of ridding the premises of carpet beetles as well 
as other household insects consists in fumigation with bisulphid of 
carbon vapor. Owing to the extremely inflammable nature of the gas 
great care should be taken that there is no fire in the house when the 
fumigation is in process. The inhaling of the vapor should also be 
avoided. 
THE HYDROCYANIC-ACID GAS TREATMENT. 
Hydrocyanic acid gas has for the past ten years been used to ex- 
terminate household insect pests and other vermin, and is the most 
effective remedy known for this purpose. Jt must be used, however, 
with the greatest caution, as it is extremely poisonous and deadly to 
human beings as well as to the lower forms of animal life. Great care 
must be exercised also in handling the poisonous chemicals—potas- 
sium cyanid and sulphuric acid—used in generating the gas. Cireular 
No. 163 of the Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Department of Agricul- 
ture, explains fully the method of use, and this should be studied well 
before the treatment is undertaken. 
SULPHUR DIOXID. 
The fumes of burning sulphur, consisting of sulphur dioxid with 
some sulphur trioxid, have been in use for many years for the destruc- 
tion of insect pests of the household, notably the bedbug, and will 
undoubtedly kill the carpet bettle as well if the fumigation is thor- 
ough. Its use is explained on pages 44 and 45 of Farmers’ Bulletin 
127, Second Revision, of this Department. 
PREVENTIVES. 
The only hope of the good housekeeper where the system of heavy 
carpets covering the entire floor surface is adhered to, les in the stren- 
uous measures explained in the foregoing paragraphs. Good house- 
keepers are conservative people, but there may eventually be ex- 
pected a general adoption of the rug or of the square of carpet, which — 
may be readily examined at all times and treated if found necessary. 
Where the floors are bad the practice of laying straw mattings under 
the rugs produces a sightly appearance, and, while not as cleanly as a 
bare floor, affords still fewer harboring places for this insect. 
O 
