extreme inflammability of their vapors is the chief argument
against their use. They must not be used where there is
any fire or flame, or where there will be such for some time.
Woollen garments may be cleaned with naphtha, carpets and
furniture may be sprayed or saturated with it. If the work
be done out-of-doors and the stuffs left until no odor is per-
ceptible, there seems to be no better remedy. Turpentine
does not evaporate as quickly as naphtha, and both odors
may be detected from furniture in a warm room for a long
time after the process of cleaning.
When the edges of carpets are infested, the tacks may be
taken out, the carpet turned over for some inches, folds of
wet cloth laid under and over the carpet strip, and hot flat-
irons applied. The steam will penetrate and kill larvae and
eggs.
Kerosene, naphtha, or turpentine may be sprayed or poured
along the edges or into cracks at such times as may be safe
from fire. Black pepper and insect powder kept along the
edges may prevent the deposition of eggs.
•The safest and surest methods of dealing with the moth
pest are the methods of prevention. It is very difficult to
know that all eggs are absent, when once they have been
present.
When a house is to be closed for the summer, pans of
water should be left in the centre of the floors. Moths and
other insects wall go here for water and may be caught.
Evaporation, for much longer periods, may be prevented by
spraying a thin film of some inodorous oil over the surface.
The methods of fumigation used in houses where con-
tagious diseases have occurred also exterminate moths.
Preventive Measures. — Light, sunshine if possible, air,
absence of breeding places, cleanness in house and of cloth-
ing, cold storage, frequent examination, movement and use,
strong odors.
2a
354 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE
Remedies. — Brushing, beating, and combing, steam, kero-
sene, naphtha, turpentine, fumigation.
Silverfish
Thysanura — Lepismatidae — Lepisma In old houses, in
attics, and sometimes in the closets of any house is seen a
pretty, slender, agile insect, popularly called silverfish,
because of its color, its scales, and undulatory movements.
Other names are "sugar-fish," "fish-moth," " silverwitch,"
and " thistletail."
The scales are smooth and slippery, the body is wingless
and worm-like in appearance, about one-third of an inch
long. The head bears two long slender antennae, while the
anal end carries three long, barbed bristles, one extended in
line with the body, the others, one on each side, sometimes
at right angles to the first.
The silverfish seems to have a voracious appetite for lace
curtains, holland shades, and all starched goods. It attacks
books, silks, and wall-paper, probably to get at the sizing or
paste which they supply, and it occasionally tastes the food
supplies. The most damage is done when a furnished
house is closed for the summer or for a longer time.
Fabrics in use and, therefore, often disturbed are least
subject to injury.
No special preventive measures apply to this insect.
All specimens seen should be killed, and fabrics packed
away should be often examined and shaken. Insect powder
may be scattered freely under and about trunks, packing-
boxes, and shelves, while bookcases should also have a
generous supply.
Page 174
Presented as published in 1900. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
extreme inflammability of their vapors is the chief argument against their use. They must not be used where there is any fire or flame, or where there will be such for some time. Woollen garments may be cleaned with naphtha, carpets and furniture may be sprayed or saturated with it. If the work be done out-of-doors and the stuffs left until no odor is perceptible, there seems to be no better remedy. Turpentine does not evaporate as quickly as naphtha, and both odors may be detected from furniture in a warm room for a long time after the process of cleaning.
When the edges of carpets are infested, the tacks may be taken out, the carpet turned over for some inches, folds of wet cloth laid under and over the carpet strip, and hot flatirons applied. The steam will penetrate and kill larvae and eggs.
Kerosene, naphtha, or turpentine may be sprayed or poured along the edges or into cracks at such times as may be safe from fire. Black pepper and insect powder kept along the edges may prevent the deposition of eggs.
•The safest and surest methods of dealing with the moth pest are the methods of prevention. It is very difficult to know that all eggs are absent, when once they have been present.
When a house is to be closed for the summer, pans of water should be left in the centre of the floors. Moths and other insects wall go here for water and may be caught. Evaporation, for much longer periods, may be prevented by spraying a thin film of some inodorous oil over the surface.
The methods of fumigation used in houses where contagious diseases have occurred also exterminate moths.
Preventive Measures. — Light, sunshine if possible, air, absence of breeding places, cleanness in house and of clothing, cold storage, frequent examination, movement and use, strong odors. 2a
Remedies. — Brushing, beating, and combing, steam, kerosene, naphtha, turpentine, fumigation.
Silverfish
Thysanura — Lepismatidae — Lepisma In old houses, in
attics, and sometimes in the closets of any house is seen a pretty, slender, agile insect, popularly called silverfish, because of its color, its scales, and undulatory movements. Other names are "sugar-fish," "fish-moth," " silverwitch," and " thistletail."
The scales are smooth and slippery, the body is wingless and worm-like in appearance, about one-third of an inch long. The head bears two long slender antennae, while the anal end carries three long, barbed bristles, one extended in line with the body, the others, one on each side, sometimes at right angles to the first.
The silverfish seems to have a voracious appetite for lace curtains, holland shades, and all starched goods. It attacks books, silks, and wall-paper, probably to get at the sizing or paste which they supply, and it occasionally tastes the food supplies. The most damage is done when a furnished house is closed for the summer or for a longer time. Fabrics in use and, therefore, often disturbed are least subject to injury.
No special preventive measures apply to this insect.
All specimens seen should be killed, and fabrics packed away should be often examined and shaken. Insect powder may be scattered freely under and about trunks, packingboxes, and shelves, while bookcases should also have a generous supply.