FLEAS. 



29 



In this instance, however, it was used mainly to protect the workmen 

 who were clearing up flea-infested premises. 



Lights have been used as traps for the adults in some instances. 

 The results will no doubt vary with the species of flea concerned. 

 A light trap which was used by Mr. E. M. Ehrhorn, formerly of 

 San Francisco, is described by Dr. Howard, as follows : 



Fill a glass three-fourths with water, on top of which pour about an inch of 

 olive oil, then place a night float (a little wick inserted in a cardboard disk 

 oi- in a cork disk) in the center of the oil. Place the tumbler in the center 

 of a soup plate filled with strong soapsuds. The wick should be lighted at night 

 on retiring, or may be used in any dark room. As the soup-plate soapsuds 

 trap is placed on the floor of the room, it does not inter- 

 fere with the sleeper, and the fleas which are on the 

 floor are attracted to the light. 



A small flea trap which is extensively used in 

 parts of China, and is said to be very beneficial, 

 has recently been described by Dr. E. Hindle. 

 In China two pieces of bamboo are used in con- 

 structing the trap. A modified form of this 

 trap, which can easily be constructed by anyone, 

 is illustrated in figure 9. 



To construct the trap, bore two holes, about an 

 inch and a quarter in diameter, in a board any- 

 where from one- fourth to 1 inch in thickness. 

 With a keyhole saw or a pocket knife cut out a 

 disk of the board around each of the holes about 

 2^ inches in diameter. Take a piece of wire net- 

 ting, with one-fourth or one-half inch square 

 soldered mesh, about 2 feet wide, and tack it 

 around the disks, having one at either end. Cut 

 off the wire, leaving the ends long enough to 

 overlap along the side of the cylinder, and bend 

 the ends in to complete the cylinder. Around a 

 broom handle or other stick about an inch in 

 diameter and equal to the length of the cylinder wrap a piece of sticky 

 fly paper, sticky side out ; tack it at each end to the stick and insert the 

 stick into the cylinder. The stick should be fastened in with a nail 

 inserted into it through a hole in the edge of one of the wooden ends. 

 The outer wire cylinder forms a protection for the sticky surface and 

 enables one to move the flea stick around between the bed sheets or to 

 roll it over the flea-infested floor, thus disturbing the fleas, which are 

 caught on the sticky paper. The stick may be easily removed and a 

 new piece of fly paper put on when necessary. 



Animals have been used as traps for fleas in experiments conducted 

 by the Indian Plague Commission and others. The Commission 



Fig. 9. — Flea trap. The 

 central cylinder is re- 

 movable and is cov- 

 ered with sticky fly 

 paper. (Original.) 



