HOW TO GUARD AGAINST SUMMER PESTS

Shannon News, 17 February 1928, Page 4

HOW TO GUARD AGAINST SUMMER PESTS

Mosquitoes and other insects are more than usually troublesome in the summer, many people suffering great discomfort.

Fortunately, beyond the irritation there is no.danger in a bite of any of our insects in this country. 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 same time', and trrege are particularly useful at night. Among them are most of the essential oils, for the odour of which all insects have a great dislike. Protectives can be obtained from a chemist and they are all more or less effective protectives. The two most useful for banishing insects are lavender and pennyroyal oils, suitably diluted by a chemist with alcohol and water.

. Other protectives are the oils of cloves, eucalyptus, rosemary and cajeput, which should also b e obtained diluted by a chemist. But 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 11 07.., oil of eucalyptus 3 drachms; soap liniment 3oz. 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 prevontitive much used in India is the following:— Oil of bergamont, 4 drachms; oil of cloves 4 drachms, oil of lavender 4 drachms, oil of turpentine, 2oz„ sulphate of quinine, 20 grains, rectified spirit Boz., water to one pint. As the 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 w-eeks. It. should be applied in the same way as.the first mixture.