
Short Stories of Science and Invention A Collection of Radio Talks by Charles F. Kettering INDEX		*59.* *D.D.T.* When sprayed over a stagnant pool it completely rid the water of mosquito larvae within 24 hours - an effective answer to malaria. Next it was tried on the walls of a barn literally infested with flies. As if by magic the flies disappeared and were not seen again for over a month. D.D.T. had passed all the tests and came through as the outstanding insect-killer. But now that its potency was proven there still remained the problem of getting it in large quantities. The pioneer company to tackle the job in this country was the Cincinnati Chemical Works. It is one thing to produce something in the laboratory test tubes and another to manufacture it by the ton. But the difficulties were overcome, and in 1943, D.D.T. began to go to the fighting fronts. As other companies went into production the new chemical joined our armed forces on the battlefronts in ever-increasing quantities. No one who has ever fought the battle of disease will underestimate the importance of this most powerful weapon. But insects are with us not only during a war - we wage a constant battle against them at all times. They destroy the farmer's crops and spread disease among all mankind. In India alone malaria kills a million people a year and in this country the common fly transmits disease to thousands. D.D.T. is our new weapon against the great loss caused annually by some eight thousand different kinds of insects. For home protection we can spray a screen and a fly won't light on it for three months. It will kill more different kinds of insects using a smaller dose than any other chemical now known. Undoubtedly when the War is over it will be sold to the public for general use.