Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1891 — Electric Mosquito Not. [ARTICLE]

Electric Mosquito Not.

One of the most singular uses to which electricity has been put in this eleotrio age is announced from Paris. A French savant has invented an eleotrio mosquito bar, which is, he believes, destined to replace all other means of defense, against flying insects. Making use of the principle of electric exe* cution, he has constructed a sort of screen or wire-work cage, with a small electric light in the center. The mosquitoes, attracted by the light, attempt to fly through the interstices of the cage; but if they so much as touch the tips of their wings—and they cannot fly through without doing so—they are struck by the ourrentof eleotrioity with which the screen is kept constantly charged. This mosquito-trap, which, under a test, is said to have killed innumerable, victims, can be maintained only by the aid of a small electric apparatus, so ar-j ranged as to send alternative currents; through the wire network. It is supposed that the person to be! protected takes refuge on the interior! or the netting, with the little eleotrio light and the generating apparatus. It! is not too much to say that there are, some people who would rather have the; mosquitoes. Inasmuch as, if the electrified net-; ting will keep out the mosquitoes, at netting made a little closer would keep them out without any electricity,! it does not seem likely that this invention is destined to any great useful-! ness. It reminds one somewhat of the story! of a Dutchman who went about selling a preparation for poisoning a certain kind of troublesome insect. “You take de insec’ mit de finger an’' de dumb of von handt,” said the ped-1 dler, “an’ den mit de odder handt you put de pizen in his mout. ” “But,” said a farmer, “if you’ve got to catch them and hold them that way, why can’t you smash ’em and dona with it ?” “Veil,” said the Dutchman, “dot’s a good vay, too!” The electric netting also suggest* the story of Patrick’s experience with an ordinary mosquito canopy. He found one in a room he was to sleep in. one night, and, after studying it for a time, made up his mind how it was to be used. This was the way he related his experience the next day: , “It’s an illegant thing I found in me room lasht noight. There was a kyoind of a fishing-nit for minnows over me bid. I made a hole through it wid me knife, an’ ivery moskater in the room wint into the nit through the hole. Thin I shtopped up the hole wid me hat, an’ shlept on the flure all noight, comfortable-loike, wid niver a boite at all!”