39 



preference exhibited by the beetles in certain cases was due rather to 

 the mordaut employed. 



Mr. Howard said that the best remedy, and the one whicli he now 

 always advised, Avas to abandon the use of carpets altogether. 



Mr. Smith had used the method suggested by ^Ir. Davis and had 

 also employed gasoline. He had not found anything in insurance 

 policies against the nse of this or like substances in small quantities, 

 but he was always careful to nrge the greatest caution in the use of 

 inflammable substances. He gave, by request, certain experiences which 

 he had had with the use of bisulphide of carbon in the National 

 Museum, a rather serious explosion having in one instance occurred 

 from the ignition of this substance by the heat from a steam radiator, 

 while there was another equally startling case of the ignition of the 

 substance in a large box, resulting from a spark having been struck off 

 from a nail in fastening down the lid of the box in which the bisul- 

 phide had been placed. In the latter case the box exploded, and the 

 negro laborer was either thrown or had leaped a distance of some feet 

 under the excitement of the moment. 



Mr. Howard asked Mr. Taylor, a visitor present, who is engaged in 

 the manufacture of bisulphide of carbon, if he knew of any cases of 

 accident from the use of this substance. 



Mr. Taylor replied that he knew of but one case of serious results, 

 and that was where an explosion had resulted from a stroke of light- 

 ning. He was inclined to think that with ordinary i^recautions the 

 danger was trifling. He said that the substance will ignite at 220 ^ F. 



Mr. Smith said that the radiator referred to by him was not nearly 

 so hot as that. 



On motion, the following nominating committee was appointed: 

 Messrs. Lintner, Eolfs, and Davis. 



WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 2S, 1895. 



The auditing committee appointed at a previous meeting, consisting 

 of Messrs. South wick and Lintner, reported that they had examined 

 the accounts of the secretary and found them to be correct. They indi- 

 cated total receipts from dues of $30, and total expenditures for postage 

 and printing for the years 1894 and 1895 of 822.G7, leaving a cash bal- 

 ance of 87.33. 



The report was adopted and the committee discharged. 



The three papers following, relating to the same subject, by ^Messrs. 

 Howard, Marlatt, and Lintner, were then read, the discussion being 

 postponed until the end. 



