12 FARMERS” BULLETIN 754. 
The old-fashioned household remedies referred to below are effec- 
tive enough, though at a greater cost of time and personal effort. 
They will, however, be often of much service in the case of slight or 
recent infestations, or where the employment of more poisonous and 
troublesome gases is objected to or is impracticable. Of these simple 
methods of control perhaps the most efficient is in very liberal appli- 
cations of benzine or kerosene, or any other of the lighter petroleum 
oils, introduced with small brushes or feathers, or by injecting with 
syringes into all crevices of beds, furniture, or walls where the insects 
may have concealed themselves. Corrosive sublimate is also of value, 
and oil of turpentine may be used in the same way. The liberal use 
of hot water, wherever it may be employed without danger to furni- 
ture, etc., is also an effectual method of destroying both eggs and 
active bugs.! 
Various bedbug remedies and mixtures are for sale, most of them 
containing one or another of the ingredients mentioned, and these 
are frequently of value. The great desideratum, however, in a case 
of this kind, is a daily inspection of beds and bedding, particularly 
the seams and tufting of mattresses, and of all crevices and locations 
about the premises where these vermin may have gone for conceal- 
ment. A vigorous campaign should, in the course of a week or so 
at the outside, result in the extermination of this very obnoxious 
and embarrassing pest. 
The possibility of temperature control is indicated in the discussion 
elsewhere of the effect of temperature on this insect, and it may be 
that if infested houses in cold climates could be opened up and 
allowed to remain at a temperature well below freezing for a week or 
more, the bedbug would be thoroughly exterminated. This method 
of control would be rarely practicable except perhaps in the case of 
summer houses which are left untenanted in winter. 
1 A remedy for the bedbug has been devised by Mr. R. H. Pettit (“Notes on two insecticidal agents,” 
in 10th Rpt. Mich. Acad. Sci., p. 159-160, 1908) as a substitute for hydrocyanic-acid gas and sulphur, and 
is reported to have proved very successful. The preparation of this insecticide and its application is ~ 
described as follows: 
Alcohol is drawn through pyrethrum in a funnel until the powder is well washed and a large part of 
the resinous principle extracted. To do this, the powder is placed in a large funnel with filter-plate and 
a layer of cotton woolat the bottom. An aspirator is attached and the alcohol is at first slowly and later 
rapidly sucked through six or eight times, during which operation it becomes highly colored. To this 
liquid as a basis, are added several oils to give permanence to the auplentian. Both alcohol and pyrethrum 
evaporate so quickly that it was thought best to carry in some heavier volatile oils whose effects would 
last several days or even weeks. The formula when completed stands as follows: 
To the extract made by washing 400 grams of pyrethrum with 2,000 c. c. of strong alcohol, are added— 
50 grams gum camphor. 
150 ce. e. cedar wood oil. 
25 grams oi] citronella. 
25 grams oillavender. 
The application is best made with a large sized atomizer, one holding a pint or more and working with 
a piston instead of a rubber bulb. * * *. To obtain the best results, repeat the treatment after about 
two weeks. We have tried this mixture repeatedly, and with uniformly gratifying results. Usually 
one application, if thoroughly made, ute a period to the complaints, about eight or ten ounces being 
required in an average sleeping-room. he odor remains some little time in a room, but is not disagreeable 
to the average person. 
This remedy can be readily prepared by a pharmacist in any drug store. 
O 
