. MOSQUITOES 247 



to hold the fumes and make them most effective. The powdered 

 stramonium is used at the rate of eight ounces for each 1000 cubic feet 

 of space, mixed with one-third its weight of saltpeter to facilitate com- 

 bustion. Spread the mass out on a tin plate or stone flag and light at 

 several points to hasten the burning. The vapor is not dangerous to 

 human life, so even if some escapes into the rooms above, no harm will 

 be done. If the cellar is leaky, use^wo or three times as much as ad- 

 vised, and in all cases keep it as tightly closed as possible for two hours at 

 least. 



Culicide is made of equal parts by weight of carbolic acid crystals 

 and gum camphor. Melt the acid crystals over a gentle heat, and pour 

 slowly over the gum. The acid dissolves the camphor, and makes a 

 clear, somewhat volatile liquid, with rather an agreeable odor. This 

 solution is permanent, and may be kept indefinitely in tight jars. Use 

 three ounces of this culicide for every 1000 cubic feet of space, and 

 volatilize over a lamp of some kind. A simple and inexpensive appa- 

 ratus for this purpose (J. B. Smith) consists of an 8-inch section of 

 gal vani zed-iron stove-pipe, cut so as to leave three legs, and with a 

 series of J-inch holes near the top to make an outlet for the draft. 

 Upon this place a shallow, flat-bottomed basin to hold the culi- 

 cide, and beneath this use an ordinary glass or other alcohol lamp. 

 Two ounces of culicide may be evaporated with I an ounce of alcohol 

 in twenty-five minutes, and a larger quantity would probably re- 

 quire proportionately less time if given a larger evaporating surface in 

 a dish of larger .diameter than the pipe. This combination is inflam- 

 mable, but not explosive, and should be used on a cement, earth, or stone 

 floor, or on bricks in a tub of water, to avoid danger of fire. The fumes 

 are not dangerous to human life until they become very dense, and such 

 as might penetrate into upper rooms through leaky floors or doors 

 would do no harm to anything. This also should be allowed to act at 

 least two hours before the doors are opened again. Flies and other 

 insects succumb as readily as mosquitoes. 



Rules for extermination and prevention of mosquitoes. (Anti-Mosquito 

 Convention, N. Y.) 



Pools of rain water, duck ponds, ice ponds, and temporary accumu- 

 lations due to building ; marshes, both of salt and fresh water, and road- 



