Hellebore, rubbed over with molasses, and put round the places that
cockroaches frequent, is a very effectual poison for them. Arsenic,
spread on bread and butter, and placed round rat or mouse holes, will
soon put a stop to their ravages. Quicksilver and the white of an egg,
beat together, and laid with a feather round the crevices of the
bedsteads and the sacking, is very effectual in destroying bugs in them.
To kill flies, when so numerous as to be troublesome, keep cobalt, wet
with spirit, in a large shallow plate. The spirit will attract the
flies, and the cobalt will kill them very soon. Black pepper is said to
be good to destroy them--it should be mixed, so as to be very strong,
with a little cream and sugar. Great care is necessary in using the
above poisons, where there are any children, as they are so apt to eat
any thing that comes in their way, and these poisons will prove as fatal
to them as to vermin, (excepting the pepper.) The flour of sulphur is
said to be good to drive ants away, if sprinkled round the places that
they frequent. Sage is also good. Weak brine will kill worms in gravel
walks, if kept moist with it a week in the spring, and three or four
days in the fall.