40 DESTROYING INSECTS- 



Remedies I nee d hardly say tha-t this intelligence and ray expence 



sfcts which * ma( ^ c me Ay i sn myself out of the house. But as I could not 

 infest our conveniently put my wish in execution, it was necessary to 



try to get rid of my co-tenants. 



The bedsteads were taken down every three or four 

 weeks during the summer and washed with decoction of 

 hellibore, solution of arsenic, and various other poisonous 

 washes. Generally some living bugs were found in them. 



Early the next spring they were again taken down, and 

 we had the mortification to find fresh colonies had taken 

 possession, and Mere beginning to breed in the joints. 



The skirting boards of the bed rooms were now removed, 

 and in such rooms as were papered, all the loose paper was 

 removed, and the rooms were well fumigated with oxymu r 

 riaticgas; after which the walls that were papered, were 

 covered with paint; for fresh papering walls infested with 

 this insect favors their increase. 



The joints of the bedsteads were painted over with three 

 coats of oxyde of lead mixed with linseed oil and a little 

 rosin, so as to form a thick coat over the wood. 



From this time, excepting a few stragglers who had got 

 into the joint and died there; the bedstead continued quite 

 free from the insect for two years, when a few were found 

 in some parts where the paint had been abraded. The 

 joints have since been painted over with a coat of thin paint 

 once in two years. A precaution which I have used be- 

 cause the walls are not free from them. During very warm, 

 weather one or two are sometimes found upon the furniture; 

 but such as get into the joints die. 



Another bedstead, the joints of which happened to be 

 painted with Spanish brown; bugs were found in the 

 following year. 



I wish this method may be found generally successful. 

 The joints should be made easy and free from splinters, also 

 all cracks and useless holes should be immediately filled up. 

 If the insect has got into the waljs the beds should stand 

 six or seven inches from them. 



On Ihe subject of fleas I have no experience. Where 

 from particular local situations cleanliness alone is insufficient 

 to keep them away, the blankets may be dipped, and the 



floor, 



