408 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT No� 1825. DECEMBER 24, 1910. INSEC TS DESTRUCTIVE TO BOO1\5.*

PE.STS OF T H E. LIB R A R Y.

BY WILLIAM R. REINICI\.

FOR a numMr of years I have been investigating by various writers, and the statements made to me which a cavity or cavities were found in the interior the subject, "insects that destroy books," and this in letters by many librarians and others, especially of the volume without sho,'ing the means by which paper is simply a summary of a few of the facts that where the libraries are located in the warmer regions, the insects obtained access thereto. I have discovered and collected. No attempt has I am positive that this statement is true. Those in Looking at the various ways in which books were been made to make it complete, either as to species charge of collections in the temperate regions, whose ravaged, and knowing from my own studies and ob­ of insects, or subject matter under any particular volumes are not as rapidly destroyed, are apt to servations in entomology that the insects have won­ group. These, in a complete form, with the results doubt the enormous destruction of books each year derful instinctive powers, which in a number' of cases of the further experiments now being made to prove by practically unseen life. could very easily be classed as intelligence, I have the theory advanced, will be published later. Again that this destruction is great enough to come to the conclusion that there must be other rea­ Various insects have been named as the true book­ cause alarm is indicated by the number of prizes of­ sons besides the desire for paste to cause these vari­ worm. The insect known as the cigarette beetle, fered by various bodies for means to prevent this ous depredations, and I have asked myself this ques­ Sitodrepa panicea, is given as the true bookworm of never ceasing destruction. Prizes were offered by tion: As we know that the dog and cat, when sick, Prof. L. O. Howard, United States Entomologist; but the Royal Society of Gottingen in 1774, the Interna­ look for certain herbs, grasses, and putrid animal if the name of "bookworm" is given to the insect tional Libra.-y of Congress in 1903, etc., but as yet matter, being directed by their instinct to that sub­ which causes the greatest destruction, then this no satisfactory results have been obtained. I hope stance which contains the vegetable and the mineral species will have to be placed quite a distance down before long to be able to present to the world the matter which are best suited for the particular ail­ in the list. Personally, I will not try at the present cause of tnese ravages and a means of prevention. ment from which they were suffering at that particu­ time to settle the question as to the species which Those who have read articles upon the destruction lar time, may not the insect, with an instinct as is to be given this doubtful rank. of books and papers by insects must have noticed that great, if not greater, have use for them for the same That a knowledge of the fact that books are de- in almost all the papers the author' has simply stated purpose? It seems to me that the lower we go in

" WOODEN BINDDfG OF SIXTEENTH CENTUHY HIDDLED BY BOOKS INJURED BY BOOK LICE, <. SILVEH'E'ISH, E'l'C. I,AHVlE OF BOHERS (ANOBHITJl\J)

THE INSECT ENEMIES OF BOOKS.

stroyed by lllsects is not of recent acquisition may that the insects were after the paste used in the the scale of life, according to the classification of the be gathered from the writings of the ancients. binding; and most of the prizes that have been of­ systematists, the more wonderful are the instinctive The earliest reference according to Austent "was fered from time to time haye the same object in faculties of the small forms of life, and that if a rescued from oblivion by the lad Salmasius, in 1606, view. If the paste is the object of attacK, why is it classification were made according to instinctive fac­ when he discovered the manuscripts or the anthology that photographs are not eaten which are fastened ulties, it is a question whether the ants would not of Caphalus, in the libraries of the Counts PalatinE', to the cardboard by means of this substance? outrank the animals by many degrees. at Heidelberg." Among the fragments in this collec­ Although some ot these writers have stated that The new school of medicine, in departing from the tion is one attributed to Evenus, the sophist-poet of the bindingu were bored or gnawed through a gal­ system of the old, that in which Hahnemann in follow­ Paros, who wrote about 450 B. C. lery leading from an opening made on the outside ing Paracelsus claimed that certain symptoms in human Aristotle speaks of a "little scorpion-like creature toward the interior of the book; that the glazed beings required mineral agencies and vegetable com­ found in books," which was evidently a species of surface of the paper was eaten off; that in a few pounds in potencies equivalent to the complaint, Acarina or pseudo-scorpions. Horace and Ovid also cases that portion of the page which had received neglected .to study the power of drugs, and results not speak of the bookworm. Pliny, in his "Natural His­ the impress of the printer's ink only had been eaten, anticipated frequently occur, caused by not using tory," has very little to say upon the subject. Mar­ making the rage look as though the letters had been judgment in the quantity of the dose given. Those tial, who lived in the first, and Lucian, in the second cut out with a punch; and again, that a cavity has interested in finding means for destroying life that century, A. D., speak of the bookworm, and many been found in the interior of the book, without show­ is destructive should use such means in their re­ other writers mention them; but it was not until ing by what means the insect was able to obtain ac­ searches as those advocated by Hahnemann. 1665, when Hook, in his "Micrographia," published cess; not one of them, gS far as I can find, has rea­ Starting upon this theory, which I contend will he an account and gave an illustration of the insect, soned upon the question that there might be other found to be true when biologists, physicists and that entomologists were enabled to determine with causes for these ravages of the insects upon books entomologists have searched more deeply into the evo­ any accuracy the insect that was .named as the cause besides the hackneyed phrase that "they are after the lution of th� lower form of life, I divided the books of the destruction of books. It is impossible from paste used in the binding in order to obtain the into classes according to that portion which was Hook's description to tell wJ?at species was meant; star'ch contained in it." damaged, and will describe some of the most im­ but the illt:.stration accompanying the description Having read hund.reds of articles and notes upon portant and name a few of the insects which attack shows that it must have been a species of Thysanura this subject, and having had the pleasure, from my that particular group. or Oollembola, commonly known as silver-fish and standpoint-but not that of the librarian-of examin­ PASTE EATERS.-Science has llroved beyond doubt spring-tails. ing many hundreds of volumes of ancient and recent or question �hat there can be no destruction of mat­ It has been stated that more books and papers are date of publication. with bindings made of different ter', only a change of form. If there is no destruc­ destroyed by small forms of life in one year than by leathers, paper made of rag, wood, and other ma­ tion of matter, then we have a demonstration of the fire and water combined; and, from the fads givRn terials, my attention was before long attracted by theory of the worm or larva having been attracted t.o the fact that in the great majority of books examined the paste lIsed in the binding of the books. In the !:' Copyrighted. uno) hy William It. Rdllick. no attempt was made by the insects to eat the paste '1 Bookworms in Fact and Fancy; Popular Science Monthly, 18U9, agricultural kingdom we find that rye, wheat and the voL lv. used in the binding, and also by the many cases in various other varieties of grain are constantly being

© 1910 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC. DECEMBER 24, 1910. SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT No. 1825. 409 damaged by the work of different species of insects. species that may be classed as paste eaters: Pyralis particular acid or poisons which the "bed-bug" re­ These insects and other small life live upon the tarinaUs, a moth, and Tenebroides mauritanicus, Sil­ quires, there you will find the insect with all its in· exudations of plant life, and the human body is also vanus surinamensis, Calandra grM�aria, and Tene­ stinctive faculties. Why do they live and thrive giving off exudations in the form of perspiration brio molitor, all beetles. under wall paper? Many wall papers, some of which which is also a source of nourishment to many forms PAPER.-Paper is made from cotton; linen, hemp, are known to be a cause of illness to mankind, have of life. rags, and waste, from chemically prepared woods, from large quantities of arsenic, cochineal and Paris green We will take rye and wheat, which are principally straws, from bark without the wood, trom wood not in them. This mineral compound being changed by used in paste making, as an example. The whole chemically prepared, and many other substances. In the continual variation of the temperature going on grain is taken to the mill, husked and ground, and a great many papers, clay and other materials are in the room, is sufficient to alter the natural char­ prepared by various processes for the sustenance of added as fillers. While we are conversant with the acter of the paper, and also the habits of the bugs, the human family. After all the processes of the various processes used by paper manufacturers, yet who are thus able to obtain nourishment from the miller have been completed, it is barreled or bagged very little attention has been given to the real char­ back of the paper. : and is ready for distribution. In the processes we acter of life that dwells within the manufactured Among this group are to be found the following find that alum has been and is still being used as a product in its primoid state. Cotton fly is used for beetles: Apate capucina, Xestobium tessellatum, whitening agency for the different grains. The flour low paper stock, and the little insect that infests the and Lyctus unipunctatus. is taken into the factory apparently pure, clean, and cotton boll, known as the cotton weevil, sends forth PAPER EATERS: VEGETABLE FIBERs.-In the Aztecan free from all forms of animated life; but in a very its offspring under a different form, yet with all the history many of the primitive documents were made short time, especially if it is kept in a compartment instincts of itself. from banana skin. These were made to receive the that is heated, or in a moist atmosphere, and is left After the paper has passed through certain stages, imprint just the same as paper is manufactured for standing some time before being used, life is appar­ but not with sufficient intensified heat to destroy the printing to-day. A sample of this paper was placeu ently created in it, a puzzle to all, as to its origin and principle of existence, the species evolutionizes into in a perfectly sealed case, and a scholar wishing to nature, and stranger still, the first life noticed .is another state or mode of living. In the broader con· refer to it one day, upon going to the case containing

PSOQUE OR BOOK LOUSE. �READ BORER (ANOBRIUM P�NICEUM). SIl,VER FISH (LE­ CHYLETUS ERCDITUS, A USEFUJ, PISMA SACCHARINA). " BOOK WORM."

(Magnified about 60 times.) (Magnified about 4 times.) (Magnified about 3 times.) (Magnified llhout 10 tlmes.)

·LUISIA1�A.

0, I'VESTA EN. CASTELLA ,...

:. B A.�ONA :

UlHl£RtA n. n.UION ,I( • , 'f'F. f; • 183�.

A RECE�T BOOK (1834) INJURED BY DESTRUCTIVE .FLY LEAF AND TITLE PAGE of A VALERIUS MAXIMUS IN THE LIBRARY OF INSECTS. THE ARSENAL, PARIS, RUINED BY INSECTS.

THE INSECT ENEMIES OF BOOKS. worm life always. In this case it is known as the ception of biological truths, ready answers are given the writing, was astonished to find that all the paper "flour worm." Mr. James Stone, a flour merchant to this profound question, i. e., the origin of various had been destroyed, although the case was still im­ of Philadelphia, in reply to my questions, stated that forms of life, and the searcher has ready for the pervious to any attack made from the outside. This they always discovered the worms first, that they were querist the proper foundation whereon to build the demonstrates how long life may· be prolonged in in­ only found in the center of the barrel, never near the superstructure of that truth, which the arcanum of sects being placed away from their natural surround­ sides, and that the loose flour lying around the nature reveals to the desires of the mind of the sci­ ings, continuing the life cycle whenever the proper floor, of which there was always a quantity, was never entist and physicist. Too little attention has been conditions are given. found to have worms in it. The lower or coarser given to the manuscript notes of scientific workers, Trichophaga tapetzella, Tinea pellionella, Tineola grades which are used exclusively for paste were first often only a line or two of their observations upon biselliella, and Plodia interpunctella are a few of the damaged. The finer grades were seldom found to the small forms of life. The average scientist think­ moths that bore into paper in order to obtain access be affected. This goes to prove my theory that the ing it too trivial to notice, often passes over the very to the fibers. life was in the flour before grinding, and that it lay observation which is the key to the puzzle that he has PAPER EATERS: MINERAL FILLERS.-This group in­ dormant until the proper conditions were produced, been spending years in trying to solve. cludes paper� where quantities of clay and other min­ such as heat and dampness. The grinding of these PAPER EATERS: WOOD PULP.-A species of insect, fre­ eral substances have been used as fillers. For an grains allows the gases in the air to reach the parti­ quently fO)lnd in libraries, is the Cimex lectulariu8. illustration we will hike tho character and life habits cles, which to a large extent, were before protected by vulgarly known as the "chinch" or "bed-bug." Its of the Termites, or white ants, which are in a me as­ skin or husk. These gases cause a chemical change to natural instinct leads it to wood on account of cer­ PTe destructful to material utilized in the manufac­ take place, which has been little stUdied, and this tain poisons in the form of acids contained therein. ture of paper. The alluvial deposits are natural to will be found to give food for worms which were here­ and certain nourishments which are of a poisonolls the white ant. consequently, when clay is used in tofore in a dormant condition. Many eggs of the (,haracter to the human being. but beneficial aDd the manufacture of paper, the instin(�t in the ant smaller forms can hardly be seen, even with a com­ necessary to insects and worm life. Wh ere paper h�s leads it to feed upon that which is natural to it. :,ound microscope. The following are some of the been manufactured from wood pulp, containing the especially if the books have been kept in a place

© 1910 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN. INC. 410 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT No. 1825. DECEMBER 24. 1910.

where it is damp. The lower organic life is, but in "bed-bug" also finds food in the poisons used, such of their lives, and are always evoluting up to a point a measure, an evolution that is manifested in the as arsenic, Paris green, etc. The idea that this inse'3t of superior consciousness. We must give credit to higher and more complex forms of life. In the moun­ is only found where uncleanliness prevails, has long the entomologists for their researches as to the laying tainous regions of North Carolina is found a col­ since been rejected, as it is constantly found where of the eggs of the winged insects, that in time by the lection of people who eat large quantities of clay absolute cleanliness rules. active energies of the physical universe, produce life

which is found there in abundance. These creatures, � Flies will cling to wall paper, especially in damp which becomes expressive, by a process of incubation the whites being designated as "poor white trash," weather. This is due to the moisture in the atmos­ which has been very little considered. These various and the negroes as "blue-gummed negroes," are ad­ phere causing the poisons in the paper, which flies are illustrations are exhibited to express the nature and dicted to the habit of clay eating, and nearly all are primarily after, to become soft enough for them to character of that which has been infectious to the veritable living skeletons. The eyes and gums of eat. libraries of the world. While many of them will seek the whites have a reddish hue, and their skins be­ GASES: FR OM HE AT.-It is accepted as a fact by for the paste, it is not always that which attracts come a dirty yellow. The gums and skins of the scientists to-day that the nature and character of life, them. They are also attracted by the mineral and negroes take on a bluish hue. This clay contains in the material sense of evolution, has for its base vegetable substances found in books. arsenic, and, instead of clay-eaters, they might more the heat generated by the physical sun, assisted by DISEASE CARRIERS.-JUSt as diseases are carried by properly be called arsenic eaters. The supply of clay the moisture of the atmosphere, and the darkened flies, the seeds of plants by birds and the winds, so for daily use is provided with more energy and pre­ chambers of the earth, which are necessary in the first are contagious diseases carried to new locations by cision than food. This clay poisons the saliva exud­ stages of all life production. Books in a very dry books and papers. Flies coming from putrid matter, ing from the glands of the mouth, and also from th0 and warm location will be found to be subject to or from a person suffering from a contagious disease, base of the teeth, and makes their bite probably attacks of Thysanura and Collembola which are natu­ by depositing disease germs on books, provide the poisonous. rally attracted by heat; and, as heat rises, the books means, if given the proper conditions, of spreading And so we see the special laws of nature, by which on the top shelves will be found to be the ones dam­ these diseases to a locality where they were unknown forms of low life live, actuated by the first prin­ aged by insects. They are seldom found where it before, not to mention the possibilities of fleas, germs ciples of their instinct to return to their primitive is damp. and bacteria. From my knowledge of the ability mode of feeding; that is, the life that is generated The spring-tails, Lepidocyrtus americanus, and the of bacteria to attach themselves to paper, I am from the botanical kingdom, much in sympathy with silver-fish, Lepsima saccharina, come under this grou;J. positive that future research will show that books the facts established by Dr. Hahnemann, which veri­ GASES, POISONOUS, ETC., COMBINED.-The tree from and papers have been the means of spreading many fies the principle that like attracts like. which is made the wood pulp used in the manufac­ cases of disease. The question of doing away with Monorium pharonis, or red ants, Termites, or white ture of paper, has its roots shooting down into the bank notes has been agitated for years, on account ants, are found destroying paper that has clay in its bowels of the earth, and its branches and leaves of the disease germs and bacteria carried on them, composition. The first named is also fond of sac­ reaching up into the heavens. The roots are fed by absorbed from the unclean hands which handle them. charine that is found in wood fiber. a varied combination of elements, mineral, gaseous, A 'letter received by me from the United States Bureau PAPER EATERS: ANIMAL FIllERS, PARCH,MENT.-In­ and vegetable, and these elements, taken in by the of Animal Industry states that "several years ago, sects, such r.s roaches, which destroy parchment, are roots, are by a wonderful system of arteries carried however, at the request of a Representative in Con­ after the oils and fats which are used in their prepa­ into every portion of the tree, and insects are thus gress, an examination was made by this bureau of ration; for, however carefully the parchment may be able to get all the elements that are necessary for a one-dollar Treasury note with the view of deter­ prepared, there is always a certain amount of oil them to sustain life. The pores of the skin are the mining the number of organisms thereon." The note and grease left in it. These oils are obtained from health-holes of the body, and in a sore, unless it is used for the investigation was obtained on February the plants, minerals, and animals of the earth which sterilized, life is bound to start, and that first life 3rd, 1904, from the U. S. Treasury, having been the roaches have always been used to; therefore, again is worm life, no matter how carefully the withdrawn on that date from circulation. It belonged when placed in a location away from their natural wound is protected on the outside. If a microscope to series 1890, and hence had been in circulation food supply, their instinct compels them to seek those were used, the body would be found to be covered thirteen years. While the note looked very old and books which have the foods, etc., in their composi­ with animated matter. The insects, preying upon quite soiled, one often received notes of even worse tion to which roaches formerly had access. After the animal life, are after the poisons exuded by the skin appearance in ordinary business transactions. processes of the manufacture of paper have been and blood. The note in question was subjected to the ordinary completed and it is ready for the printer, another OMNIVOR ous.-Among the insects which can find laboratory manipulations for determining the number transitional change is nigh, due to the chemicaliza­ food in all portions of the books may be mentioned of micro-organisms upon it which were capable of tion of the inks that are used. the beetles, Sitodrepa panicea and Tribolium con­ vegetation and development, and as a result of this PaTchment is especially eaten by the roaches, fusum. examination it was found that there were 13,518,000 Periplaneta americana and Ectobia germanica, the CARNIVOROus.-The following are some of the forms living micro-organisms present on this note. These crickets, Gryllus ussimilis, and some species of Cole­ of life found preying upon insects found in libraries: consisted principally of the organisms popularly optera or beetles. the centipede, Scutigera forceps, pseudo-scorpions, known as bacteria and fungi. Uncleanliness is more SKIN BINDINGs.-Bindings made of skin always have Bryobia praetensis and Tryoglyphus longior. I be­ to blame than the paste in the books for the insects a certain amount of oily or gelatinous substances in lieve that irlvestigation will show that the last two found destroying them. them, even though they may seem perfectly dry to the species are injurious to books. The fleas, Pulex serraticeps and other species, and observer, and these bindings are subject to the. rav­ RESEARCHEs.-Some of the statements here made the Acarina or pseudo-scorpions, are also capable of ages of the insects, that in their natural state go may seem radical, but when it is considered how carrying disease germs. after substances containing oils and greases. Leath'lr little is known of the habits of the lower forms of REMEDms.-As far as the destruction of these that is perfect in its external appearance, under de­ life, on the one hand, and the facts give!) by the few insects by poison is concerned, they are practically grees of dampness will expand, and under degrees life histories that are known, on the other, it does worthless, because whenever the poison is used to of heat will contract. The oil is hidden at the not appear to me unreasonable to place this theory destroy one insect it will attract other insects who bottom, and does not come to the surface until before the public. Especially so, as my own experi­ have need for that poison. Uncleanliness of the pressed out by expansion caused by dampness. The ments are showing results entirely different from any­ human family also helps to supply the needs of a book· skin contains the same elements in the dead state thing hitherto published. worm. Men and women who do not give the proper as in the living, and the bindings will be attacked by It is known that the eggs of the insects under ad­ consideration to their hands, going from the dining the same forms of life that lived upon the live verse conditions will stay fertile for long periods of room into the library, either public or private. Nature, animals, because they can still find the mineral poi­ time; that the eggs will also stand a very high or by its process under the great infinite power, has sons and the alluvial substances that were part of low temperature; and, on account of the toughness supplied the skin of the human body with scales and their natural food supply. Leather bindings are also of their skin or shell, are also able to stand a great pores, and these, acting upon their functional duties, subject to the depredations of insects and worms deal of handling and pressure without being crushed are constantly discarding that which the body in a which are partly after the oils, acids, and fats that or broken. At an institution with which I was offi­ healthful state does not want. In perspiration, which are in the [kin, as well as from the new life that cially connected for a number of years, a lot of is moisture, there is thrown out from the pores of the has been conveyed to it by the uncleanliness in pre­ mosquito eggs were received from Cuba. These eggs skin a combination of mineral and vegetable acids, paring the leather, not including the hundreds of sub­ had been attached to a piece of rough blotting paper, which may all be summed up' in one word, "dirt." stances, many of them poisons, especially tannic acid and sent to us through the mails. Upon receiving This combination or dirt contains food for a number used by the tanners for tanning purposes, which are them, thinking that they had been ruined by rough of species of insects. When hands, which are soiled, also attractive to other species of insects. And just handling and pressure that they must have received are laid on clean paper, some of the matter attached as the animals which eat the plants containing vari­ in transit, the blotting paper was thrown aside and to the hands witl be left upon the paper, in this way ous chemical elements thus become impregnated with allowed to lie exposed to the dust of the atmosphere producing food for insects. We say this because acids, so will the insects living upon animals and and the rays of the sun for many months. One day, man from a material standpoint has his grosser body plants be fOl-nd to have acids in their compositions. in a spirit of fun, someone threw the blotting paper made of matter, and matter in a concrete form is The leather is destroyed by a number of species of into some water, and, to the surprise of all, in a very the dust of the earth. Cleanliness in the handling beetles, such as Lasioderma serricorne, Attagenus short time the larvre were swimming around as of papers, books, and documents will be of more value pic()us, Dermostes lardarius, and Anthrenus scrophu­ though nothing had ever happened to them. than all the poisons combined. Let common sense lari((? All plants, vegetables, trees, etc., have certain com­ prevail, make sanitary rules in the home and in WOOD BINDINGR.-The beetles, Anobium hirtum and binations of chemical elements which are only found the public library an enforced rule, and it will Ptilinus serricornis, are found making galleries in the in them, as is known from chemical analyses, which lessen and arrest the rapid growth of the little wooden covers of books. have been made of material from them, and whenever insects which feed upon ' our silent friends of POISONS USE D, MINERAL.-We have in the minerals any of these trees, etc., are used in the manufacture so much value to us, besides eliminating the possibili­ of the earth many poisons, one of which, arsenic, of paper and the preparation of leathers, eggs of ties of contagious diseases. The library of the future is of special interest, as it has been the established the different species are n�ost likely to be found in­ will be found to contain lavatories where every one rule of the wall paper manufacturers to use it in corporated in the material. Hibernating, as it were, wishing to make use of the books in the collection large quantities; and this poison is one that attracts until the proper conditions through heat or damp­ will first have to thoroughly cleanse his or her hands. various species of insects on account of its medicinal ness come about, giving vitality to the germ within, This is a subject which should be considered in the value. Just as human beings take poison in propor­ and in a very short time the little worm is enjoying near future by the bacteriologist, as well as the tionate ratio to the needs of their systems, and espe­ life, although being evoluted, perhaps, later than entomologist, biologist and general visitors to the cially arsenic for their health, so do the insects and nature intended it to be. halls of learning. lower forms of life, which have an instinct beyond Again, wandering insects come into the library, and the ordinary comprehension, need it; and they find their instinct tells them what books contain the At a general meeting of the Aeronautical Society, it in the wall papers and colored illustrations printed particular food or medicine which they are seeking. resolutions were' passed eulogizing the career of the on the bindings and in the books. Where sulphur is These little insects pass through various states of late Octave Chanute. He was referred to in the reso­ used, other �pecies will be at tracted, and so on with evolution, with long periods of life, which are known lutions as "practically the founder of the science of aviation, who was many yeafl$ in advance of others," the various poisons which ar� ll§E:lQ in the arte. The to the tlu1t\l mind all to the exactness of the length

© 1910 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC.