,,treasury ,,department ,,united ,,states ,,public ,,health ,,service ,,hugh ,s4 ,,cumming1 ,surgeon ,general ,,the ,,bedbug ,,its ,,relation ,,to ,,public ,,health1 ,,its ,,habits ,,and ,,life ,,history1 ,,and ,,methods ,,of ,,control ,,reprint ,no4 #fbf ,,from ,,the ,,public ,,health ,,reports ,december #aj1 #aibj 7,pages #bifd-bigj7 ,revised edition1 #aibd ,illustration ,,washington ,,government ,,printing ,,office #aibd ,,the ,,bedbug4#a ,its ,relation to ,public ,health1 its ,habits and ,life ,history1 and ,methods of ,control4 #a ,reprint from the ,public ,health ,reports1 vol4 #ce1 ,no4 #ej1 ,december #aj1 #aibj1 pp4 #bifd-bigj4 ,the bedbug is one of the numerous insects which have been suspected of conveying disease to man4 ,compared with such insect pests as mosquitoes1 lice1 and fleas1 however1 its rle is decidedly a minor one4 ,it has been claimed that the bedbug can take up the microparasites of ,european relapsing fever1 plague1 and possibly leprosy1 along with the blood of men or animals suffering from these diseases4 ,it is also possible that in rare instances the bedbug may transmit plague or ,european relapsing fever to man4 ,on the other hand1 there is no convincing evidence that the bedbug is the usual and ordinary insect transmitter of these or any other diseases at present known to us4 ,if the bedbug acts as a transmitter of disease1 it apparently does so by the accidental carriage of disease elements on the mouth parts2 but this occurs only under the most favorable conditions4 ,these would require1 first1 the presence of great numbers of microparasites on the skin or in the blood of a man or animal sick with some disease transmissible to man by subcutaneous inoculation2 second1 it would probably be necessary that there should be many bugs biting in order that one or more of them should bite some healthy person within a rather short space of time after these insects had fed on the infected individual4 ,in actual practice these conditions would be found only in the most filthy and insanitary surroundings and would call for drastic measures to exterminate all vermin4 ,it is1 of course1 possible that under unsettled conditions where sick and well are crowded together with no facilities for cleanliness1 bedbugs might act as transmitters of septicemic diseases4 ,experience has shown that under such grossly insanitary conditions such insects as fleas and lice appear to be and are far more dangerous as carriers of disease4 ,special measures for their extermination should be taken4 ,added precautions for the examination of bedbugs under these conditions would probably not be justified by the results4 ,notwithstanding the minor rle which must be assigned the bedbug as a carrier of disease1 its presence is an offense against sanitary decency4 ,its bites are quite poisonous to some people and its odor is most disagreeable2 and every effort should be made to keep all dwellings1 hospitals1 ships1 and other premises free from these disgusting insects4 ,dr4 ,l4 ,o4 ,howard1 ,chief of the ,bureau of ,entomology1 ,united ,states ,department of ,agriculture1 and consultant ,united ,states ,public ,health ,service1 has permitted the quotation of the following passages from ,farmer's ,bulletin ,no4 #ged1 by ,c4 ,l4 ,marlatt1 which gives an authoritative account of the habits1 life history1 and the means of control of these insects4 8,general ,characteristics4 8,the bedbug belongs to the order ,hemiptera1 which includes the true bugs or piercing insects1 characterized by possessing a piercing and sucking beak4 ,the bedbug is to man what the chinch bug is to grains or the squash bug to cucurbs4 ,like nearly all the insects parasitic on animals1 however1 it is degraded structurally1 its parasitic nature and the slight necessity for extensive locomotion having resulted1 after many ages doubtless1 in the loss of wings and the assumption of a comparatively simple structure4 ,before feeding1 the adult is much flattened1 oval1 and in color is rust red1 with the abdomen more or less tinged with black4 ,when engorged1 the body becomes much bloated and elongated and brightly colored from the ingested blood4 ,the wings are represented by the merest rudiments1 barely recognizable pads1 and the simple eyes or ocelli of most other true bugs are lacking4 ,the absence of wings is a most fortunate circumstance1 since otherwise there would be no safety from it even for the most careful of housekeepers4 ,some slight variation in length of wing pads has been observed1 but none with wings showing any considerable development has ever been found4 8,habits and ,life ,history4 8,the bedbug is normally nocturnal in habits and displays a certain degree of wariness1 caution1 and intelligence in its efforts at concealment during the day4 ,under the stress of hunger1 however1 it will emerge from its place of concealment in a well-lighted room at night1 so that under such circumstances keeping the gas or electric light burning is not a complete protection4 ,it has been known under similar conditions to attack human beings voraciously in broad daylight4 ,it usually leaves its victim as soon as it has become engorged with blood and retires to its normal place of concealment1 either in cracks in the bedstead1 especially if the latter be one of the wooden variety1 or behind wainscoting1 or under loose wall paper2 and in these and similar places it manifests its gregarious habit by collecting in masses4 ,it thrives particularly in filthy apartments and in old houses which are full of cracks and crevices1 in which it can conceal itself beyond easy reach4 ,as just noted1 the old-fashioned1 heavy1 wooden-slatted bedsteads afford especially favorable situations for the concealment and multiplication of this insect1 and the general use in later years of iron and brass bedsteads has very greatly facilitated its eradication4 ,such beds1 however1 do not insure safety1 as the insects are able to find places of concealment even about such beds1 or get to them readily from their other hiding places4 8,the bedbug takes from #e to #aj minutes to become bloated with blood1 and then retires to its place of concealment for #f to #aj days for the quiet digestion of its enormous meal1 and for subsequent molting1 or reproduction if in the adult stage40 8,the eggs hatch in a week or #aj days in the hot weather of midsummer1 but cold may lengthen or even double this incubation period or check development altogether4 ,the young escape by pushing up the lid-like top with its projecting rim4 ,when first emerged1 they are yellowish white and nearly transparent1 the brown color of the more mature insect increasing with the later molts40 8,unfavorable conditions of temperature and food will necessarily result in great variation in the number of generations annually and in the rate of multiplication1 but allowing for reasonable checks on development1 there may be at least four successive broods in a year in houses kept well heated in winter40 8,food and ,longevity4 8,under normal conditions the food of the common bedbug is obtained from human beings only1 and no other unforced feeding habit has been reported4 ,it is easily possible1 however1 to force the bedbug to feed on mice1 rats1 birds1 etc41 and probably it may do so occasionally in nature in the absence of its normal host4 ,the abundance of this insect in houses which have long been untenanted may occasionally be accounted for by such other sources of food1 but probably normally such infestation can be explained by the natural longevity of the insect and its ability to survive for practically a year1 and perhaps more1 without food40 8,influence of ,temperature4 8,as a messmate of human beings in dwelling houses1 the bedbug is normally protected from extreme cold and is known to be an abundant and serious pest far north4 ,in fact1 it is often more troublesome in north temperate latitudes than farther south4 ,this may be accounted for partly by the fact that the bedbug is very sensitive to high temperatures1 and a temperature of #if to #ajj ,f4 or more1 accompanied with a fairly high degree of humidity1 results in the death of large numbers of the bugs4 ,the mature or partly mature bedbugs can stand comparatively low temperatures1 even below freezing1 for a considerable period4 ,the eggs and newly hatched larv1 however1 succumb to a temperature below freezing1 if this condition is prolonged for from #ae days to a month4 ,the feeding and developing activity of the insect practically ceases at #fj ,f41 the insect remaining quiescent and in semihibernation at temperatures below this point4 ,the most favorable temperatures for activity are between #fj and #ih ,f4 ,the activity of the insect is controlled entirely by temperature and food supply1 and1 therefore1 in heated houses the insect may remain active throughout the winter4 ,there is some protection in winter1 therefore1 in sleeping in cold bedrooms40 8,the ,bite of the ,bedbug4 8,the bite of the bedbug is decidedly poisonous to some individuals1 resulting in a slight swelling and disagreeable inflammation4 ,to such persons the presence of bedbugs is sufficient to cause the greatest uneasiness1 if not to put sleep and rest entirely out of the question4 ,with others1 however1 who are less sensitive1 the presence of the bugs may not be recognized at all1 and1 except for the occasional staining of the linen by a crushed individual1 their presence might be entirely overlooked4 ,the inflammation experienced by sensitive persons seems to result chiefly from the puncture of the skin by the sharp piercing set which constitute the puncturing element of the mouth parts1 as there seems to be no secretion of poison other than the natural fluids of the mouth4 8,the biting organ of the bedbug is similar to that of other insects of its order4 ,it consists of a rather heavy1 fleshy under lip 7the only part ordinarily seen in examining the insect71 within which lie four thread-like hard filaments or set which glide over one another with an alternating motion and pierce the flesh4 ,the blood is drawn up through the beak1 which is closely applied to the point of puncture1 and the alternating motion of the set in the flesh causes the blood to flow more freely4 8,to allay the irritation set up by the bite of the bedbug1 peroxide of hydrogen or dioxygen may be used with good results4 8,tincture of iodine either at ordinary or double strength is also a good counterirritant for use in cases of flea1 mosquito1 bedbug1 and other insect bites1 but should be used with caution on the tender skin of small children and on those who are affected with or disposed to eczemic disorders40 8,natural ,enemies of the ,bedbug4 8,living always in houses as it does and being well concealed1 the bedbug is not normally subject to much if any control by natural enemies4 ,certain other household insects1 however1 do occasionally prey upon the bedbug1 as1 for example1 the house centipede and the common little red house ant4 ,such enemies1 however1 are of very small importance and yield little1 if any1 effective control except under very exceptional circumstances40 8,remedies4 8,undoubtedly the most efficient remedy for the bedbug is to fumigate the infested house or rooms with hydrocyanic-acid gas4 ,this gas will penetrate into every crevice in the house or room where the bedbugs conceal themselves and has an immediate effectiveness which gives it an important recommendation1 especially when the infestation is considerable or of long standing4 ,this method of fumigation should be intelligently employed1 as the gas is deadly poisonous40 ,five ounces of potassium cyanide per #a1jjj cubic feet of space should be employed2 exposure1 one hour4#b ,ten ounces per #a1jjj cubic feet would be better4 #b ,creel1 ,r4 ,h41 and ,faget1 ,f4 ,m41 ,cyanide ,gas for the ,destruction of ,insects1 with ,special ,reference to ,mosquitoes1 ,fleas1 ,body ,lice1 and ,bedbugs3 ,public ,health ,reports1 ,june #i1 #aiaf1 pp4 #adfd-adge2 ,reprint ,no4 #cdc4 8,the fumes of burning sulphur are also a very efficient means of control where the conditions are such that this method can be used1 readily destroying the insect in all stages1 including the egg4 ,the treatment is inexpensive compared with the use of hydrocyanic-acid gas and offers much less risk of danger to human beings4 ,there is1 however1 a considerable risk of injury to household fabrics1 furnishings1 and wall papers from the strong bleaching quality of sulphur fumes4 ,this danger will be somewhat diminished if the fumigation can be done at a time when the room or house is thoroughly dried out1 as in winter by a furnace or other heating system4 ,further precautions should be taken by removing all metallic surfaces from the room or building1 or by protecting them with a coating of vaseline40 ,four pounds of sulphur are recommended for each #a1jjj cubic feet of space1 and the building should be closed for the treatment for at least five or six hours4 8,sulphur candles may be used where available1 or the sulphurous gas or fumes can be generated by burning the sulphur in a dish placed in the center of the room1 and for protection set within a larger vessel4 ,thoroughgoing precautions must be taken to prevent accidental overflowing or the starting of a fire1 and after the fumigation the house should be given a thorough airing4 8,other gases have been experimented with1 such as formalin and the vapors of benzine1 naphthalene1 and camphor1 but these gases are of little value4 ,similarly1 insect powders are of little value1 largely from the difficulty of getting them into the crevices and other places of concealment of the insects4 8,the old-fashioned household remedies referred to below are effective enough1 though at a greater cost of time and personal effort4 ,they will1 however1 be often of much service in the case of slight or recent infestations1 or where the employment of more poisonous and troublesome gases is objected to or is impracticable4 ,of these simple methods of control perhaps the most efficient is in very liberal applications of benzine or kerosene1 or any other of the lighter petroleum oils1 introduced with small brushes or feathers1 or by injecting with syringes into all crevices of beds1 furniture1 or walls where the insects may have concealed themselves4 ,corrosive sublimate is also of value1 and oil of turpentine may be used in the same way4 ,the liberal use of hot water1 wherever it may be employed without danger to furniture1 etc41 is also an effectual method of destroying both eggs and active bugs4#c ,a #e per cent solution of compound solution of cresol 7liquor cresolis compositus7 in kerosene forcibly applied with a large plant sprayer is effective if frequently applied4 #c 8,a remedy for the bedbug has been devised by ,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,pettit 7#8,notes on two insecticidal agents1' #ajth ,rpt4 ,mich4 ,acad4 ,sci41 p4 #aei-afj1 #aijh7 as a substitute for hydrocyanic-acid gas and sulphur1 and is reported to have proved very successful4 ,the preparation of this insecticide and its application are described as follows3 8,alcohol is drawn through pyrethrum in a funnel until the powder is well washed and a large part of the resinous principle extracted4 ,to do this1 the powder is placed in a large funnel with filter-plate and a layer of cotton wool at the bottom4 ,an aspirator is attached and the alcohol is at first slowly and later rapidly sucked through six or eight times1 during which operation it becomes highly colored4 ,to this liquid as a basis1 are added several oils to give permanence to the application4 ,both alcohol and pyrethrum evaporate so quickly that it was thought best to carry in some heavier volatile oils whose effects would last several days or even weeks4 ,the formula when completed stands as follows3 8,to the extract made by washing #djj grams of pyrethrum with #b1jjj c4 c4 of strong alcohol1 are added #ej grams gum camphor4 #aej c4 c4 cedar wood oil4 #be grams oil citronella4 #be grams oil lavender4 8,the application is best made with a large-sized atomizer1 one holding a pint or more and working with a piston instead of a rubber bulb4 99 99 99 ,to obtain the best results1 repeat the treatment after about two weeks4 ,we have tried this mixture repeatedly and with uniformly gratifying results4 ,usually one application1 if thoroughly made1 put a period to the complaints1 about eight to ten ounces being required in an average sleeping room4 ,the odor remains some little time in a room1 but is not disagreeable to the average person4 8,this remedy can be readily prepared by a pharmacist in any drug store40 8,various bedbug remedies and mixtures are for sale1 most of them containing one or another of the ingredients mentioned1 and these are frequently of value4 ,the great desideratum1 however1 in a case of this kind1 is a daily inspection of beds and bedding1 particularly the seams and tufting of mattresses1 and of all crevices and locations about the premises where these vermin may have gone for concealment4 ,a vigorous campaign should1 in the course of a week or so at the outside1 result in the extermination of this very obnoxious and embarrassing pest40 8,temperature control4,the possibility of temperature control is indicated in the discussion elsewhere of the effect of temperature on this insect4 ,a temperature maintained below freezing for #aj or #ae days destroys the eggs1 and this temperature continued for #ae days to a month will destroy the newly hatched young4 ,it may be1 therefore1 that if infested houses in cold climates should be opened up and allowed to remain at a temperature well below freezing for a considerable period1 all eggs and the young1 and possibly most if not all of the adults1 would be exterminated4 ,this method of control might perhaps be practicable at least in the case of summer houses in the ,north which are left untenanted in the winter4 8,the maintaining of high temperatures may be an even more efficient method of control4 ,the activity of the bedbug is at its greatest between #fj and #gj to #ge4 ,as indicated elsewhere1 in a temperature of #if to #ajj ,f41 accompanied with a high degree of humidity1 newly hatched bedbugs perish within a few days1 and1 if this temperature is raised to #aac ,f41 in a few minutes4#d ,a temperature of #aac will also destroy the eggs1 and with these higher temperatures the item of humidity is not apparently important40 #d ,,editorial ,,note4,an account of successful use of live steam to eradicate bedbugs in bunkhouses1 as practiced by a lumber company in ,oregon1 was published in ,public ,health ,reports1 ,nov4 #bh1 #aiai1 pp4 #bgac-bgad4 ,in that instance steam pipes were tapped1 after closing all doors and windows1 and a temperature of #afj ,f4 was held for approximately #c hours4 ,the officials of the company stated that #b months after the steaming no signs of bedbugs had been found4 ,,additional ,,copies ,,of ,,this ,,publication ,,may ,,be ,,procured ,,from ,,the ,,superintendent ,,of ,,documents ,,government ,,printing ,,office ,,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,,at #e ,,cents ,,per ,,copy ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,text in italics is enclosed by underscores 7italics74 ,archaic and variable spelling has been preserved4 ,variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved4