Powder spray for Paris Green, France, 1925-1935
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First used in the 1920s, ‘Paris Green’ is, as its name implies, a green coloured insecticide powder used to kill mosquito larvae in an attempt to control the numbers of this malaria-causing insect. In a different form it could also be used to poison rodents. Made from a highly toxic mixture of copper and arsenic, the powder could be sprayed using the bellows. In the years before DDT, this highly toxic chemical was often the first choice for anti-malarial spraying. Huge quantities of it were dropped by aeroplane on parts of Italy, Sardinia and Corsica during 1944 and 1945 to control the disease. This example was made in France for Cooper, Pegler & Co Ltd, a company that has manufactured a range of sprayers since 1894.
Object number:
A630670
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: pest sprayer
No description.
Glossary: malaria
Parasitic disease transmitted by certain kinds of mosquito. Malaria is characterized by fever and enlargement of the spleen. Each year, there are approximately 515 million cases of malaria, killing between one and three million people.