15 



work, paper bags, and nmriy hundred dollars' worth of goods were 

 burned; elevator cups and belts were boiled for hours in water; 

 and those parts of the machinery not easily accessible, were 

 flamed by means of a kerosene torch. All this was not sufficient, 

 and September 19 the Local Government pa6£ed an Order in 

 Council, compelling the manager of the mill to take more strin- 

 gent steps for the suppression of the pest. In compliance with 

 an order from Dr. Bryce, the miller constructed a tight steam 

 box and subjected every piece of machinery, even millstones and 

 iron rollers, to a thorough steaming. After two months' loss of 

 time, and loss of fixtures and machinery, the mill started up 

 again. 



In hie Bulletin (26), Dr. Bryce gives details concerning the habits 

 and appearance of this insect in its various stages, and adds an 

 account of its depredations in the past, drawing largely from 

 Miss Ormerod's Twelfth Report. He suggests preventive and 

 remedial measures in case the moth appears again in other mills. 



Mr. Fletcher accompanied Dr. Bryce a part of the time during 

 these investigations. They visited many stores and mills to find 

 out whether the moth had spread, but in one case only was the 

 insect found, and here, only tuch quantities of farinaceous foods 

 were kept as would be sold out during the week to consumers. 

 In his Report for 1889 (29), Mr. Fletcher says, "There was a gen- 

 eral opinion among all those visited, that this insect was only the 

 ordinary meal worm, Asopia farinaUs, which may generally be 

 found in small numbers in neglected meal or flour barrels, but 

 which seldom does sufficient harm to be classed as an injurious 

 insect." He further adds that "the present species may be con- 

 sidered a much more formidable enemy, and if allowed to multiply 

 and spread through our large American flouring- mills, will be a 

 calamity of enormous magnitude." A few months later the state 

 of afPairs in the infested mill was found to be very serious. Mr. 

 Fletcher gives a brief summary of recent literature on this insect, 

 with Dr. Riley's excellent figures of Plodia interpunctella and 

 Ephestia kuelinielln and comparison of the two species, adding 

 information suggested by his own notes and observations. 



In spite of the measures taken the year previous, the moth 

 spread to other mills, and many local dealers in flour and grain 

 had the pest on their premises. A printed circular letter was 

 issued by Dr. Bryce, October 15, 1890 (33), oiJering to millers 

 and produce men the cooperation of the Board of Health for the 

 eradication of the pest A copy of the Provincial Act (47 Vic, 

 chap. '68, sec. 39 and 40) is printed in this circular, according to 

 which, among other provisions, any medical officer or sanitary in- 

 spector may at any reasonable time inspect a mill and examine 

 the goods being manufactured for sale as food, and may condemn 

 and order to be destroyed any food- products which may be found 

 unfit for use. In addition to this, the person exposing them for 

 sale shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred dol- 

 lars for each parcel of grain, bread, or flour. In conclusion. Dr. 

 Bryce reprints, from his former Bulletin, the remedies to be 

 used in combating the pest. 



