Word: pyrethrum
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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Ever since DDT came out of the laboratory two years ago, chemists have been trying to improve on the "wonder killer." Last week a Britisher announced his entry: "Activated DDT," a concoction of pyrethrum...
...mixture of quick "knockdown" pyrethrum and DDT has been used in many preparations, notably the U.S. Army's "aerosol" insect bombs, now being sold to U.S. householders. But Activated DDT is supposed to penetrate an insect's chitin (outer skin) and reach its nervous system more surely than previous mixtures...
...famous "bug bombs" (aerosol sprays) are excellent for a limited purpose. They should contain both DDT and pyrethrum (or some similar toxicant). The pyrethrum knocks flies and mosquitoes down quickly. The slower DDT keeps them from rising again. But bug bombs leave no appreciable residue. Bugs that arrive in the room after the air has cleared remain in good health...
...these items would be available in any quantity before Christmas, but the words rolled on the tongue like bubble sum. Some U.S. citizens even enjoyed knowing that there were no more restrictions on cotton linters, natural resins, green bone glue, horse mane hair and an insecticide named pyrethrum...
Besides DDT, three other highly effective weapons have been developed for the Army & Navy: 1) an insect "bomb," consisting of a small can which, when opened, releases an "aerosol" gas loaded with an insecticide (such as DDT or quick-killing pyrethrum) that instantly fills a room; 2) a new mosquito repellent, "Formula 6-12," which smells like witch hazel and is reported to be six times as effective as 100% citronella; 3) N.M.R.I. 201, a still more effective repellent just developed by the Navy, said to last eleven hours...