Portable mosquito insecticide dispenser, United States, 1945
Photograph. Man operating portable mosquito insecticide dispenser being towed by man driving tractor inside factory. Official Caption: "Rome, 6/8/45--Anti-mosquito patrol at work--In a plant located in a swampy neighborhood, mosquitoes may lead to absenteeism, slower production rates and ruined material. Therefore, engineers and health authorities at the Merchant Marine plant of the Westinghouse Company, situated on low ground adjoining the tidal Delaware River in the Eastern U.S., declared war on mosquitoes. First, a mechanical counter for mosquitoes was designed, using a blower to draw in known quantities of air every hour. The air passes through a cone-shaped screen that catches the mosquitoes and directs them into a cyanide chamber for killing and periodic counting. With such counters outdoors and indoors it was easy to make a comparison of the numbers of the pests outside and within the plant. The mosquitoes in the 27,000,000- cubic foot (765,000 cubic meter) plant were killed with the aid of a portable aerosol dispenser, wheeled on a regular route throughout all the aisles in the plant. Its gasoline-engine driven blower dispelled a cloud of insecticide consisting of the strong insect poison DDT mixed the solvents and a dispensing agent. Because of the fineness of the droplet particles, the insecticide hung in air and infiltrated to every part of the factory where mosquitoes could possible hide--FF PhotoServiced by Rome OWI. Approved by appropriate military authority. 6533-2 (A List out). United States. 8 June 1945