15 
work, paper bags, and many hundred dollars’ worth of goods were 
burned; elevator cups and belts were boiled for hours in water; 
and those parts of the machinery not easily accessible, were 
flamed by means of a kerosene torch. All this was not sufficient, 
and September 19 the Local Government passed an Order in 
Council, compelling the manager of the mill to take more strin¬ 
gent steps for the suppression of the pest. In compliance with 
an order from Dr. Bryce, the miller constructed a tight steam 
box and subjected every piece of machinery, even millstones and 
iron rollers, to a thorough steaming. After two months’ loss of 
time, and loss of fixtures and machinery, the mill started up 
again. 
In his Bulletin (26), Dr. Bryce gives details concerning the habits 
and appearance of this in3ect in its various stages, and adds an 
account of its depredations in the past, drawing largely from 
Miss Ormerod’s Twelfth Keport. He suggests preventive and 
remedial measures in case the moth appears again in other mills. 
Mr. Fletcher accompanied Dr. Bryce a part of the time during 
these investigations. They visited many stores and mills to find 
out whether the moth had spread, but in one case only was the 
insect found, and here, only such quantities of farinaceous foods 
were kept as would be sold out during the week to consumers. 
In his Report for 1889 (29), Mr. Fletcher says, “There was a gen¬ 
eral opinion among all those visited, that this insect was only the 
ordinary meal worm, Asopia fcirinalis , which may generally be 
found in small numbers in neglected meal or flour barrels, but 
which seldom does sufficient harm to be classed as an injurious 
insect.’* He further adds that “the present species may be con¬ 
sidered a much more formidable enemy, and if allowed to multiply 
and spread through our large American flouring-mills, will be a 
calamity of enormous magnitude.” A few months later the state 
of affairs in the infested mill was found to be very serious. Mr. 
Fletcher gives a brief summary of recent literature on this insect, 
with Dr. Riley’s excellent figures of Plodia interpunctella and 
Ephestia kuehniella and comparison of the two species, adding 
information suggested by his own notes and observations. 
In spite of the measures taken the year previous, the moth 
spread to other mills, and many local dealers in flour and grain 
had the pest on their premises. A printed circular letter was 
issued by Dr. Bryce, October 15, 1890 (33), offering to millers 
and produce men the cooperation of the Board of Health for the 
eradication of the pest A copy of the Provincial Act (47 Vic, 
chap. 38, sec. 39 and 40) is printed in this circular, according to 
which, among other provisions, any medical officer or sanitary in¬ 
spector may at any reasonable time inspect a mill and examine 
the goods being manufactured for sale as food, and may condemn 
and order to be destroyed any food-products which may be found 
unfit for use. In addition to this, the person exposing them for 
sale shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred dol¬ 
lars for each parcel of grain, bread, or flour. In conclusion, Dr. 
Bryce reprints, from his former Bulletin, the remedies to be 
used in combating the pest. 
