74 NATURE STUDY AND LIFE 



possible, every method the children can think out for them- 

 selves and all they may have learned from their homes. 

 The first and most effective of these will be scrupulous 

 care against allowing to be neglected anywhere about 

 the premises any materials that may furnish food for the 

 larvas. Second, all woolens and furs must be packed 

 away so that moths cannot lay their eggs on them, and 

 it should be remembered that they may lay their eggs 

 about cracks in trunks or chests and that the larvas 

 may find their way in when they are almost too small to 

 be seen. We can prevent this by tying the materials in 

 tight cotton-cloth bags or by packing them away in paste- 

 board boxes with a strip of paper pasted over the crack 

 around the cover. If there have been any moths about, 

 there is danger that eggs may have been lodged about 

 the garments, which airing and brushing may not have 

 removed. To insure against possible damage from this 

 source we may pack the garments in a very tight box, 

 wash boiler, or trunk, placing on top a saucer containing 

 from a tablespoonful to half a teacup (according to size 

 of receptacle) of carbon bisulphide. Close quickly and 

 as tightly as possible and leave closed for a day. This 

 should be done by daylight and out of doors. The fumes 

 of the carbon bisulphide are heavy and will have descended 

 and penetrated through every stitch, seam, and pore, kill- 

 ing eggs and larvae in all stages. The garments may then 

 be aired and packed away. 



Great care should be taken not to breathe any of the 

 carbon bisulphide, for it is poisonous ; hence if kept about 

 the house or premises at all, it must be in securely stop- 

 pered cans or bottles. No flame or fire should be allowed 



