SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES 



3 9088 01272 7111 



REMEDIES. 



Advantage may be taken of the liking of these insects for fabrics 

 and other articles containing starch to poison them by slipping into 

 all the crevices where they occur — in bookshelves and backs of man- 

 tels, under washboards, and in the bottoms of drawers— bits of card- 

 board on which a thick boiled starch paste liberally poisoned with 

 arsenic has been spread and dried. One of our correspondents reports 

 complete relief by this measure. The silver fish readily succumbs 

 to pyrethrum, and wherever this can be applied, as on book shelves, 

 it furnishes one of the best means of control. For starched clothing 

 and similar objects liable to be injured by it, frequent handling and 

 airing and the destruction by hand of all specimens discovered is 

 to be recommended, in addition to the poisoned cardboard remedy. 

 Little damage is liable to occur in houses except in comparatively 

 moist situations or where stored objects remain undisturbed for a 

 year or more. 



Washington, D. C, June 20, J90i 



