THE MUSKETO PEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 851, 21 March 1868, Page 15

THE MUSKETO PEST.

(From the Scientific American.)

The cool weather we are now enjoying has not yet rid us of the pest of the musketo ; any suggestion, therefore, for defending oui-selves from their attacks will be welcome. The Philadelphia Ledger says :—

"Of the various remedies proposed, none are so efficacious as the use of musketo netting in the windows and around the beds at night. But as this is not always practicable or convenient, we must resort to other means for bidding defiance to our enemies. Of these, the best is the smoke produced by burning a small quantity of what is technically called, " Persian Insect Powder." This consists of the powdered flowers, and perhaps young stems and leaves, of a plant known to botanists as Pyrefhrum caucasicnm, a kind of chamomile cultivated largely in Germany, resembling the common garden chamomile in many of its properties, and of which all the various "insect," "magnetic," and "fly" powders are wholly or entirely composed. For use against musketoes, a small quantity, about what could be heaped upou an old-fashioned silver dollar, if' any of | our readers remember the size of that i coin — is placed at bed time on a plate, and the top of the heap touched with a lighted match until it shows a red coal. The mass will then smoulder gradually away, filling the room with a light smoke, which narcotizes the musketoes and keeps them quiet for several hours, after which it may be necessary to repeat the operation. The evolution of the smoke will be facilitated by stirring the burning powder from time to time, so as to secure perfect combustion, although this is not absolutely essential. The powder may be also twisted up in a light cylinder of paper, and burnt in that form. Its use, as described, against musketoes, gnats, &c, has long been known to the Chinese and Tartars, who mould itinto sticksandburnitintheirtents and dwellings, which would in many cases be uninhabitable without it. The same substance, in its powdered state, is also used to great advantage in preventing the attacks of cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas, ants, &c, and in keeping flies off the dining tables. It is perfectly harmless to mankind, and may be eaten as freely as chamomile, and the smoke is not at j all injurious. This latter, it may be mentioned in addition, has much the same effect on flies as on musketoes — not destroying them, but merely throwing them into a stupor.

" Carbolic acid, poured upon a rag and hung near the bed 3at night, also acts very favorably, by its powerful odor, in keeping away mnskctoes. This is, however, more disagreeable to most persons than the smell of the burning insect powder, which resembles that from a mild cigar."