BLATTA ORIENTAL IS

The common cockroach, originally imported from the East, belongs to the family of orthopterous insects; and may be cla ed amongst the most offensive and objectionable of domestic pests. It is extremely voracious, not only devouring all kinds of provisions, but attacking and consequently destroying silk, flannel, and even cotton fabrics, in the absence of anything more eatable. The cockroach is nocturnal in its habits, and exceedingly active and swift of movement. Its flattened form enables it to insinuate itself easily into crevices, and so to escape detection. The American cockroach ( Blatta American a ) is larger than the above. A still larger species ( Blatta gigantea ) is found in the West Indies where it is known by the name of the drummer. It is so called from the tapping noise it makes on wood, the sound so produced, when joined in by several of the creatures (as it usually is) being sufficient to destroy the slumbers of a household. Cockroaches may be poisoned by means of wafers made of red lead, or caught by smearing a piece of wood with treacle, and floating it on a broad basin of water. When the fires and lights are extinguished they i ue from their holes, and fall into the basin in their efforts to reach the bait. The chinks and holes from which they come should also be filled up with unslaked lime, and some lime should also be sprinkled about the ground. Old Gerrard says they avoid any place in which the leaves of the mullein are strewn about. The Blatta Oriental is , which was formerly supposed to po e remedial powers, and was hence employed in medicine by the more ancient therapeutists, has lately found advocates for his readmi ion into the animal materia medic a. He is reported, when made into a tincture, to act as a diuretic, and to yield a crystalline body po e ed of similar properties, but in a more concentrated form. Some of the American journals report that he may be given in the form of powder or infusion (from 15 to 30 gr.) 3 or 4 times a day, in dropsy, and to increase the secretion of urine as well as of perspiration.