SUMMER PESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17348, 20 December 1919, Page 6 (Supplement)

SUMMER PESTS.

Mosquitoes and other insects are more than usually troublesome in the summer, and holiday-makers and country residents generally suffer great discomfort. Fortunately, beyond the irritation there is no danger in a bite of any of our insects in this country, if we except those few parts where malaria is present. Here the mosquito is a real danger. But the irritation is enough of itself to make measures against bites worth taking. There are many applications which after they are applied will keep most insects away for some time, and these are particularly useful at night. Among them are most of the essential oils, for the odour of which all insects have a great dislike. Preservatives can be obtained from a chemist, and they are all more or 'ess effective preservatives. The two most useful for banishing insects are lavender and pennyroyal oils, suitably diluted Dy a chemist with alcohol and water.

Other protectives are the oils of cloves, eucalyptus, rosemary, . and cajeput, which should also be obtained diluted from a chemist. liut a combination of drugs is better than any one alone, and the following will be found most efficacious': — Oil of lavender, 24 minims; spirit of camphor, l£ozj oil of eucalyptus, 0 drachms; soap linament, 3os. Just the merest trace of this is to be smeared over the wrists, hands, ankles, and so on when the insects are troublesome.

Even a more effective preventive much used in India, is the following :—Oil of bergamot, 4 drachms; oil of cloves, 4 drachms; oil of lavender, 4 drachms; oil of turpentine, 2oz ; sulphate of quinine, 20 grains'; rectified spirit, 8oz; water to 1 pint. As drugs are dear, one can ask the chemist for one-tenth of this quantity, or 2oz, which should be sufficient to last for a few weeks. It should be applied in the same way as the first, mixture,