INSECTS INJURIOUS TO DRUGS 495 



means of spraying. In the nature of the case this method is out of the 

 question in fighting drug pests, but, because the drugs are capable of being 

 easily handled and subject to treatment in air-tight vessels, a very con- 

 venient, effective, and universally applicable method is possible, namely, 

 treatment with vapor of bisulphide of carbon. The vapor of bisulphide 

 of carbon is deadly to all insects in all stages, except the egg stage. The 

 infested drug should be placed in a tight vessel (after having removed the 

 dust and debris caused by the attacks of the insects) and a quantity of 

 bisulphide of carbon, sufficient to charge the vessel with vapor, intro- 

 duced. Any insect in the vessel will be killed. The remedy is simple, 

 effective, and is feasible in the case of almost any drug. 



Prevention of attack may be accomplished in some degree by the use 

 of tight cases, though often the insects are introduced into the case with 

 the drug, the drug specimens having come from an infested lot. Occa- 

 sionally inspection of the jars and cans will detect the insects before they 

 have had time to do much damage. 



The ease of the detection of the presence of insects, and the ease with 

 which the pests may be killed, makes it certainly worth the while of any 

 druggist to devote a little time required for the effective prevention of 

 insect damage to his stores. 



