3^6 HEATING ROOMS BY STEAM. 



Inquiry rt- eren this small quantity might be so disagreeable to fleas as 

 means of de" ^^ expel them. Sulphur is, 1 believe, destructiye, or at 

 stroying fleas least disagreeable to insects, bii t I much doubt whether it , 

 sects. " <^0"ld he used in any conveniont form to answer our purpose. 



Perhaps the sulphur-water, water containing sulphuretted 

 hydrogen, niight have some effect, but it would, in m,ost 

 situations, be too expensive for use. It is said that worm- 

 wood is very offensive to fleas. Probably an infusion of It 

 might be very advantageously used to secure us against the 

 intrusious of these troublesome little animals. As it might 

 often be inconvenient to procure the herb fresh, it would 

 be important to know whether the oil, or any preparation 

 of it that could be conveniently preserved, would answer 

 the purpose. C^imphor is said to be offensive to bugs ; but 

 though I never made any experiments expressly on the sub- 

 ject, yet I think I am enabled by accident to cojitradict it. 

 It might, merit a trial, whether washing the body over with 

 any of these articles would secure us against the bites of 

 .Jieas, or bugs, or musquitoes, or gnats. With respect to. 

 . the cure of these bites I can say little. I have heard military 

 . men, who have been in warm climates, speak of the custom 

 of laying a cut lemon by the bed-side, and rubbing the part 

 with it immediately on being bit. If any of your corre- 

 spondents can communicate any useful information on this 

 subject, I shall be one amongst many others who will feel 

 extremely grateful at being relieved from one of the 

 *' miseries of humaji |i,'"e." 



I am. Sir, 



Your obedient Servant, 

 A. 



m. 



Account of the Method unci Advantage of heating Apart » 

 ments and Mamifactories by Steam. By Mr. Neil 

 Snodgrass*. 



History and iN April 1798 Mr. Snodgrass was engaged by G. Mackin~ 

 meSo/ ^*^**os^ ^^ Xi^i>y'lA Dale, Esqrs. to, manage a cotton mill near 



r^ste"ara'.°°"*' * '^^^^ ^'^"^^^^ °^ ^^^ S^''^ ^ premium of Forty Guineas foj- 

 this useful communication. 



Dornoch 



