Circular 21 - Insecticides and Subsidiary Materials 74 
SULFUR 
Sulfur is used to protect man from 
chiggers or red bugs. It is dusted on the 
body, especially the lower limbs or parts 
where the clothing f its tightly, to prevent 
chiggers from attacking the skin, when it is 
necessary to work in or travel through grassy 
or wooded areas. It may also be dusted on 
vegetation to control chiggers. Very finely 
divided sulfur made up as a suspension in 
water is used to protect green lumber and other 
rough lumber products while in the process of 
seasoning against attack by Lyctus powder-post 
beetles, by a dipping process as outlined in 
Circular 6. Several proprietary products 
including "Sulfocide'* and '♦Mcrof ine sulfur" 
are sold for this purpose. Sulfur dioxide 
may be used to fumigate empty buildings or 
houses. 
Commercial sulfur is a yellow powder and 
is obtainable in several forms: flowers of 
sulfur, and dusting or flour sulfur. Either of 
these forms may be used against chiggers. 
Ordinary sulfur (S) is a yellow, brittle, 
crystalline solid, which is practically insolu- 
ble in water. It has only a faint odor and 
taste. Commercially, sulfur is used in making 
sulfuric acid, other sulfur compounds, fire- 
works and matches, in medicine, for the control 
of various other insects, and as a fungicide 
against certain plant diseases. 
Caution : Sulfur when used as a dust is 
often very irritating to some people, especi- 
ally to the eyes and nose. In such cases it 
is advisable to wear goggles or respirators of 
which several efficient types are available. 
