Memorandum on the bed-bug and how to deal with it / Ministry of Health.

Date:
[1935]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memorandum on the bed-bug and how to deal with it / Ministry of Health. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/12 (page 6)
    Fumigation. An important use of fumigation is the treatment of furniture in transit, preferably in the removal vans themselves. As far as 1s known at present, hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid gas) is the most effective gas for this purpose. It can be generated from (i) liquid hydrogen cyanide stored under pressure in metal cylinders, or stout glass bottles, (11) liquid hydrogen cyanide absorbed in a porous medium (‘‘ Zyklon B ’’), (iii) calcium cyanide powder (‘‘ Cyanogas ’’) (iv) sodium cyanide and sulphuric acid. This gas at a concentration of 2 per cent. by volume with an exposure of three hours will usually penetrate into all ordinary types of hiding-place and kill Bed-bugs and their eggs. This concentration is given by 25 ozs. of liquid hydrogen cyanide or about 50 ozs. of sodium cyanide per 1,000 cubic feet. Hydrogen cyanide is highly poisonous to human beings and domestic animals. Fumigation with this gas should be undertaken only by trained and responsible persons who have full knowledge of the nature of the gas and of the precautions which must be observed. Special care must be taken to ensure that bedding, upholstered furniture and fabrics are completely free from all traces of gas before they are brought into use again. Ventilation of bedding is difficult and it may be necessary to keep it separate from the rest of the furniture and treat it in a steam disinfector for destruction of Bed-bugs. Fumigation of houses with hydrogen cyanide calls for even ereater care and experience, and only experts should undertake this work. In cases where it can be safely carried out, it is probably the most rapid, efficient and economical method of eradicating Bed-bugs. | Fumigation with sulphur, at the rate of 5 to 6 lb. of sulphur to 1,000 cubic feet, is sometimes effective but cannot be trusted to kill Bed-bugs in deep harbourages, or their eggs. The gas should be generated at as many points as practicable. Sulphur fumigation should be repeated after an interval of three weeks in order to kill Bed-bugs which have been hatched in the interval. Formaldehyde and ethylene oxide have been used with some degree of success, but the comparative toxicity to Bed-bugs of these and other fumigants has yet to be determined. VIT.—_REMOVAL OF TENANTS TO NEW PREMISES. Shortly before a move takes place, the house should be visited and thoroughly inspected. A cursory inspection is useless. If Bed-bugs are found to be present, the tenants should be instructed in the methods to be adopted and should be encouraged to undertake the systematic cleaning of all furniture and effects in the ways already indicated.