INECTS INJURIOUS TO MAN AND IN HOUSEHOLD 647 



dusted into the hair will cause the fleas to drop off. If the animal 

 be held over white paper the stupefied fleas falling on the paper 

 can easily be caught and killed. 



Fleas in breeding places may be killed by treating with 

 gasoline or kerosene, if where such substances can be used safely. 

 Under permanent carpets the only remedy is to remove and 

 thoroughly clean the carpets 

 and to treat the floors with 

 strong soapsuds or gasoline. 

 Movable rugs are much better 

 from the standpoint of flea 

 control than carpets. It is 

 probable that where a vacuum 

 cleaner is used frequently little 

 trouble will be experienced 

 with fleas. When fleas are 

 breeding out of doors all the 

 rubbish should be cleaned off 

 the ground and the soil soaked 

 with salt water. 



Control of the rat flea in- 

 volves destruction of rats and 

 this is done in cities as a community proposition. In seaports 

 such as San Francisco and New Orleans, where bubonic plague 

 sometimes appears this is more important than elsewhere. At the 

 same time modern civilization has proscribed the rat and it 

 should be destroyed for other reasons. 



Further details in the treatment of fleas may be obtained from 

 Farmers' Bulletin 897, U. S. Department of Agriculture, "Fleas 

 and Their Control," by F. C. Bishopp. 



Bedbugs * 



The bedbug has not yet been proven guilty of transmitting 

 any definite disease of importance in this country. It is under 

 suspicion because its habits give it the opportunity to carry many 

 different kinds of disease. This it undoubtedly does, in the role 

 of a simple carrier, if not as a direct inoculator. 



The bedbug is a small, flattened, brownish insect which may 

 * Cimex lectularius, Linn. Family Cimicidce (Acanthiidce) . 



FIG. 567. The human flea: adult male. 

 Greatly enlarged. After Bishopp U. 

 S. Dept. of Agr. 



