STUDIES IN TERMITE CONTROL 



By W. C. O'Kane and W. A. Osgood. 



Summary 



Termites are a destructive group of insects which attack and ser- 

 iously damage beams, timbers, flooring, partitions and various pro- 

 ducts made of vegetable fibre. 



The infestation here described took place in a modern hospital in 

 a New Hampshire city and involved extensive damage to partitions, 

 floors, beams and other woodwork. 



A large amount of infested material was removed and destroyed. 

 Tile and cement were substituted. 



Preliminary experiments were arranged to determine the time 

 and temperature factors necessary to kill termites in wooden beams 

 by heat. 



Supplementary steam piping was installed in the basement and 

 the temperature was raised to 135° for 24 hours. 



No living termites have since been discovered within the building. 



The structure remained in undisturbed use for hospital purposes 

 while the heat treatment was going on. 



Extensive infestation was found through much of the hospital 

 grounds. Board traps were utilized to discover the extent of this 

 infestation. Timbers, board walk, apple trees, etc. were removed. 

 A mixture of Phinotas oil and water at a dilution of one-half of one 

 percent was used to kill termites in the ground and to render the 

 ground unacceptable to them. 



