6 
their limbs extended in the normal position for running. Flies, 
roaches, and bedbugs, and without doubt all the other household 
pests were killed. The bedbugs, against which the fumigation was 
especially directed, were found dead in numbers under trunks and 
about the beds. 
The ingredients used were the 98 per cent cyanide of potassium, cost- 
ing about 40 cents a pound. The sulphuric acid was the thick, almost 
sirupy commercial brand, costing about 4 cents a pound, the total cost 
of the materials used being, approximately, $12. 
In handling the acid great care should be used in pouring it from the 
bottle and in putting it into the vessels to avoid spattering on the hands 
or face, since it will burn rapidly through the skin, and should it spat- 
ter into the eyes would cause serious inflammation, or if on the cloth- 
ing it would burn a hole in the garment. Should a drop fly to the 
hands or face, bathe the part promptly and freely in water, and the 
same also for garments or the carpet. It is further desirable to have at 
hand a bottle of ammonia water to neutralize the acid should it spatter 
on clothing. The eyanide should be broken up into lumps not exceeding 
twice the size of a walnut, the powdered and smaller fragments serving 
equally well. The bags should be of very thin paper. If they are of 
thick, heavy paper, the action of the acid is delayed, and sometimes 
prevented completely. If there is any danger of this make two or three 
slits in the bottom of the bags to facilitate the entrance of the acid. 
Deep vessels are more satisfactory for the experiment than the wash 
basins chiefly used, but the latter were available and required no addi- 
tional expense and served the purpose. Deeper vessels would give 
greater depth to the water and acid, and accelerate the chemical action. 
Whenever the room is of such size that more than 2 pounds of 
cyanide must be employed for it, it is perhaps better to make two 
charges of half size for such a room. It would have been better, per- 
haps, in this instance, if the fumigation could have gone on over night, 
but the owners of the premises were very desirous of occupying it, and 
the house was aerated between 4 and 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Three 
persons, contrary to orders, slept in the rooms during the night, and 
reported no ill effects, although shght traces of the odor were noticeable 
in the early part of the night. 
L. O. HOWARD, 
Approved : Hntomologist. 
JAMES WILSON, 
Secretary. 
WASHINGTON, D. C., June 22, 1902. 
O 
