FUMIGATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20799, 19 August 1929, Page 16

FUMIGATION.

■<B* ■ Nowadays fumigation is so often carried out by au officer of the Public Health Department that it is seldom necessary for one to have a knowledge of bow to proceed in the matter; however, there is always that odd time when it is necessary for one to act alone. A formalin lamp with formalin tablets is certainly the most convenient and efficacious method. But there are other methods, such as the following:— 1. The room and furniture may be sprayed with formalin in water, 10 per cent. This ' does not injure curtains, wallpaper or furniture. 2. To ooz of permanganate of potash add half a pint of 40 per cent, formalin. Place in an empty kerosene tin and stand this in a large milk pan containing boiling water. 3. Place 1 Jib of quicklime in a milk pan arid pour half a pint of 40 per cent, formalin over it. The floor should be protected with sevr. ral sheets of newspaper underneath the funiigator, and the room should be sealed and exposed to the fumes for at least 12 hours. To prepare the room, paste strips ol paper over all the window and door cracks. Do not overlook the keyhole, and if there is a fireplace in the room paste a large sheet of paper completely over u. The door by which one must leave the room is sealed afterwards on the outside. Open and leave open all drawers and cupboards, and hang their contents loosely about the room, so that the gas will penetrate every fold. Pull down the blinds and arrange the carpet, cushions, blankets, mattress, and all such things also, so that they will be freely penetrated, Books, unless they are very valuable, are better destroyed; place them and any loose papers in the fireplace before it is sealed up and afterwards burn them. If it is considered necessary to preserve them place them upright on their edges and open up the leaves as much as possible. Put. the disinfectant on the floor, and if a lamp is used be careful that it is not placed where it will set anything on fire. Afterwards thoroughly air and ventilate the room and its contents, anti 'wash over nil the woodwork with some disinfectant.