long-lived environmental polluters have been outlawed but many organophosphate still around. They are effective and sometimes spectacular in the sudden death of fleas when applied. Ticks arc difficult to kill and these products are useful; but for fleas you can use an old product, rotenone,which has a short life. Although it docs take longer to kill a flea, the flea is just as dead as if it were killed instantly by more dangerous drugs.Rotenone and related resins are obtained from the roots of tropical plants, notably derris in the East Indies and cube in South and Central America; it is one of the most potent insect killers known. Pets can ea tit in small amounts, usually with no ill effects. It is more poisonous if inhaled, and is especially so if it gets into fresh open cuts.
Rotenone also kills fish. If you use it, don't allow rotenone to blow into the water in a fishpond. And don't allow a dog dusted for flea infestation to swim in water with fish in it.
Rotenone in dusts, diluted to i percent, is probably as safe a flea and louse powder as anything one could ask for. No dog should be put in closed box and dusted, since it is then forced to breathe the dust. It is hard to believe that pets could be so mistreated, but they often are by people who want to keep the powder off their clothes.
