Poisonous Paper
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Poisonous paper is paper impregnated with a toxic substance used for killing flies. It typically contains arsenic acid with sugar or honey as bait, and safer alternatives using potassium dichromate and red pepper have been developed.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
Poisonous paper, paper impregnated with a poisonous composition; used for poisoning flies. In addition to poison, such paper contains baits—sugar or honey, and sometimes aromatic substances. Usually the paper is soaked in a 1-2% solution of arsenious acid in weakly alkaline water, and then dried. When using the paper, it is moistened with water and sugar is added. To replace this poisonous paper, which is also poisonous to humans, so-called non-poisonous fly papers containing potassium dichromate and red pepper have been proposed according to the following recipe: dissolve 5 parts of potassium dichromate in 60 parts of water, then add 15 parts of sugar and 10 parts of tincture of cayenne pepper; soak un-sized paper. Paper impregnated with an extract from wood of the quassia tree works even better.
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Cite this page
“Poisonous Paper.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/poisonous-paper/