INSECT BITES.
. When a mosquito, gnat, or other insect punctures the human skin it deposits or injects an atom of acidulous fluid of a poieonous nature. This causes an irritation, a sensation of tickling, or of pain. The best remedies for the sting of insects are those which will instantly neutralise this acidulous poison deposited in the skin. These are either ammonia or borax. The alkaline reaction of borax is scarcely yet sufficiently appreciated. Borax is kept in every household, and it can be recommended as a domestic and harmless chemical. The solution of borax for insect bites is made thus:—Dissolve one ounce of borax in one pint of water that has been boiled and allowed to cool. Instead of plain water, distilled rose water, elder, or orange flower water is more pleasant. The bites are to be dabbed with the solution so long as there is any irritation. For bees' or wasps' stings the borax solution may be made of twice the above strength.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 18
Word Count
165INSECT BITES. Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 18
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