3 



and straw mattings, in tlie writers opinion, favors their development, 

 since the 3'oung- huva? can penetrate the interstices of either sort of 

 floor-covering and find an abiding place in some crack where they are 

 not likely to be disturbed. It is comparativel}' easy to destroy the 

 insect in its earh- stages (when it is noticed), but the adult fleas are 

 so active and so hardj' that they successfully resist any but the most 

 strenuous measures. Even the persistent use of California buhach 

 and other pyrethrum powders was ineffectual in one case of extreme 

 infestation, as was also, and more remarkably, a free sprinkling of 

 floor mattings with benzine. In this instance it Avas finally necessary 

 to take up the floor-coverings and wash the floors dow'n with hot 

 soapsuds in order to secure relief from the flea plague. In another 

 case, however, a single liberal application of buhach was perfectly 

 successful, while in a third a single thorough application of benzine 

 completely rid an infested house of fleas. 



In bad cases almost nothing will avail without the greatest care in 

 keejiing the floor and other coverings, as well as crevices, etc., free 

 from dust and dirt. The old remedj' often mentioned of putting a 

 piece of raw meat upon a sheet of sticky fly paper, in the hope that 

 the fleas will jump for the meat and be caught by the fly paper, has 

 been thoroughly tried by the writer without success. "Where there are 

 comparatively few fleas in a house or in a given room, the following 

 somewhat laborious plan will result in eradication. Place a white 

 cloth, like a pillowcase, in the middle of the floor. The fleas, attracted 

 by the- white color, will jump on the cloth. Then, with a basin of 

 water, kneel down and with the wetted forefinger pick up the fleas 

 one after another and put them in the water. The writer has known 

 several houses in Washington to be rid of rather sparse populations 

 of fleas in this manner. 



Mr. E. M. Ehrhorn, of San Francisco, gives the following remedy, 

 which he states he has tested and which his mother used with effect 

 in South America. Fill a glass three-fourths Avith Avater, on top 

 of which pour about an inch of oKa^c oil, then place a night float (a 

 little Avick inserted in a cardboard disk or in a cork disk) in the 

 center of the oil. Place the tumbler in the center of a soup plate 

 filled Avith strong soapsuds. The Avick should be lighted at night on 

 retiring, or may be used in any dark room. As the soup-plate-soap- 

 suds trap is placed on the floor of the room it does not interfere Avith 

 the sleeper, and the fleas which are on the floor are attracted to the 

 light. For outbuildings, such as barns, etc., a large milk pan may 

 be used, and instead of using olive oil and a glass, a stable lantern 

 may be placed in the center of the pan, Avhile instead of soapsuds a 

 scum of kerosene may be put on the Avater in the milk pan. 



[(Mr. lOS] 



