48 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



promptly cared for either by destroying the entire package or if 

 heating is inadvisable by treating the same with carbon bisulfid. 



Fumigation with carbon bisulfid is comparatively easy of exe- 

 cution since it is only necessary to put the material in a tight 

 pail or can^ put on the top a spoonful or thereabouts of the insecti- 

 cide in a shallow saucer or plate, cover the receptacle tightly and 

 allow the whole to stand for preferably 24 or 36 hours. This 

 insecticide may be used on a large scale according to Dr W. E. 

 Hinds, at the rate of 5 pounds to 1000 cubic feet of space, pro- 

 vided the compartments are exceptionally tight and the temperature 

 above 70 degrees F. 



FUMIGATION .WITH HYDROCYANIC ACID GAS 



This is one of the most effective methods of destroying insects 

 in houses, particularly if the infestation is general. It should be 

 remembered at the outset that potassium cyanide, sulfuric acid 

 and their derivative, hydrocyanic acid gas, are among our most 

 active and deadly poisons. They should be handled with extreme 

 care and every precaution taken to avoid an accident, since a slight 

 mistake might result in one or more fatalities. 



One ounce of high grade, g^fo cyanide of potassium and one 

 fluid ounce of the best commercial sulfuric acid, diluted with two 

 fluid ounces of water, should be used for every 100 cubic feet of 

 space. These amounts should be doubled for poorly constructed 

 houses. The fumigation should last at least 30 minutes and it 

 would be preferable to have it continue three or four hours, or if 

 feasible, all night. 



Prior to treatment all fluids, especially liquid or moist foods, 

 should be removed from the house. Arrangements should be made 

 to open the building from the outside after the fumigation is com- 

 pleted. Windows and doors should be sealed as tightly as possible, 

 either by stuffing damp paper in the crevices or pasting strips of 

 paper over cracks. Chimney places, ventilators and other orifices 

 should be closed tightly. The gas is generated by dropping the 

 cyanide of potassium, previously broken into lumps about the size of 

 a walnut and preferably placed in thin bags or wrapped loosely in 

 thin paper, into the requisite amount of diluted acid. The acid 

 should be carefully diluted by pouring it slowly, accompanied by fre- 

 quent stirring, into the necessary amount of water. This dilution 

 should be slow enough to avoid all danger of this very strong acid 

 splashing and perhaps causing dangerous burns. It will be found 



