REPORT 
of 
DDT SPRAYING ACTIVITIES DURING THE 1945 
POLIOMYELITIS EPIDEMIC IN DENVER, COLORADO 
November 27, 1945 
-by- 
A, T, Rossano, Jr., B.S., M.S, 
COLORADO DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH 
u . Division of Industrial Hygiene 
620 Colorado Building 
Denver 2, Colorado DDT SPRAYING ACTIVITIES DURING THE 1945 
POLIOMYELITIS EPIDEMIC IN DENVER, COLORADO 
Division of Industrial Hygiene 
Colorado Division of Public Health 
November 27, 1946 
On August 22, 1945, a meeting was called by Dr. Cleere, Secretary and 
Executive Officer, Colorado Division of Public Health, to discuss plans for 
combating the increasing rate of poliomyelitis in Denver, Among those pre- 
sent at this meeting in addition to Dr, Cleere were Dr, Chadwick, Colorado 
Venereal Disease Control Division, Mr, Carl Sohwalb, Denver Manager of 
Health and Charity and ourselves. 
It was agreed that while the reported number of oases was not alarming, 
some tentative arrangements should be made for a specific plan of action to 
be initiated should the incidence of poliomyelitis reach epidemic proportions. 
A* The Plan 
In general the offensive plan included three major measures* These were: 
1* Epidemiological Investigation* Forms were to be prepared and 
employed to investigate each reported case of polio. 
2, Prevention and Control, This represented the adoption of ap- 
propriate sanitary procedures for the control of those under- 
lying factors generally responsible for the dissemination of 
disease. One of these factors is the control and elimination 
of flies and similar insect pests. 
3. Health Education, This included keeping the public and medical 
profession informed by appropriate press and radio releases, 
bulletins, etc*, of the progress of the disease and appropriate 
preventive measures. 
At a staff meeting on August 27th it was felt that developments in- 
dicated the need to put the plan into operation. 
B* Material and Equipment To this Division was entrusted the task of 
implementing the second measure as it applied to the control and elimi- 
nation of flies and similar insect pests. It was decided to employ 
the new insecticide, DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), This 
powerful insecticide had been used in connection with a recent polio 
outbreak in Rockford, Illinois idiere it had been broadcast from the air by means of an airplane* We felt that this manner of application 
was indiscriminate and should be discarded in favor of a more selective 
method. It was decided to spray selected areas by means of knapsack 
sprayers and volume mechanical sprayers. Mir. Cramner, Manager of Parks 
and Improvements, City of Denver, very graciously offered us the use of 
a tree-spraying truck and crew* In addition he granted us permission 
to utilize the office and garage facilities at City Park as our head- 
quarters. 
From the U. S. Public Health Service, Malaria Control in War Area Head- 
quarters at Atlanta, Georgia, we received by air express a shipment of DDT 
powder and six knapsack sprayers equipped with special flat-spray nozzles. 
Shortly after our spraying program got under way the U. S. Army Air 
Forces, Western Technical Training Command, offered us the services of Mr. 
R. Simpson, Sanitary Engineer at Buckley Field as well as men and equip- 
ment. Equipment consisted of knapsack sprayers and two army type decon- 
taminating units. Each unit consisted of a large truck provided with a 
400 gallon tank, two leng hoses with spray guns, and a compressor capable 
of producing a pressure of 400 pounds per square inch. In addition, the 
Army supplied us with liquid insecticide {6% DDT in kerosene) from their 
own stock, which we later replaced. 
Large quantities of Xylol, wetting agent, Diesel Oil and additional 
quantities of DDT were purchased locally. 
C, Procedure. The control work centered about three main activities: 
l) DDT residual spraying of residential districts 
having the highest number of reported cases. 
In spraying residential districts two methods 
were employed: 
a* Men provided with knapsack sprayers 
filled with a solution of 6% DDT in 
kerosene moved through the alleys 
spraying garbage racks, incinerators, 
backyards, etc. 
b. The large power sprayers moved through 
the alleys spraying 2,j0t, DDT emulsion 
in a similar manner* (The emulsion was 
a mixture of DDT, Xylol, wetting agent 
and water)* 
Ho attempt was made to treat the interior of dwellings. 2) DDT spraying of insect breeding areas such as public 
dumps, stables, the Denver Stockyards, etc. 
a. In spraying the breeding areas a power 
sprayer provided with about DDT in 
Diesel Oil was used to saturate the 
ground infested with fly larvae which 
would otherwise have been unaffected 
by ordinary DDT residual spraying* 
The above procedure was followed in Denver as well 
as a few communities around the State which had 
requested this service. 
3) Insect control work at selected locations. 
In addition to the spraying of residential 
districts and fly breeding areas, plans were 
formulated and carried out for the control 
of insects in: 
a. Garbage trucks 
In cooperation with the garbage collectors 
in Denver a program for spraying all gar- 
bage trucks was evolved® The trucks were 
assembled at a central point outside the 
city limits and thoroughly sprayed with 
6% DDT in kerosene by means of knapsack 
sprayers* 
b. Restaurants 
In cooperation with the Denver Restaurant 
Owner's Association large scale demonstra- 
tions of DDT spraying of eating establish- 
ments were held. 
c* Dairies 
Actual demonstrations of DDT spraying were 
performed at two Denver dairies. 
The objective of the garbage truck, restaurant and dairy spraying 
demonstrations was primarily to offer information on the latest techniques in 
insect control and to stimulate interest on the part of various commercial 
groups in establishing their own insect control programs. 
Throughout the epidemic a considerable amount of information was re- 
leased to the public regarding the use of DDT in controlling flies and 
other insect pests. The spraying activities were continued for about one 
month, beginning August 28, 1945. TABLE I 
TABULATION OF SPRAYING ACTIVITIES SHOWING MATERIALS, LOCATIONS & COSTS* 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
1 Type of 
Insecticide 
Composition 
Equipment 
Used 
Locations 
Treated 
Quantity of 
Insecticide 
Used 
(gal.) 
Cross 
Area 
Treated 
(sq.mi.) 
Cost 
1 
Cost Pec 
Sq, Mi* 
$ 
Solution 
5% DDT in 
Kerosene 
Knapsack 
sprayers 
Residential 
Areas 
225 
0*14 
260 
1,900 
Emulsion 
DDT, 
xylol, wet- 
ting agent 
and water. 
City 
tree 
Sprayer 
it 
2,000 
10.66 
400 
38 
Diesel oil 
DDT 
Army decon- 
taminating 
truck 
Dumps 
stockyards, 
etc* 
4,200 
2,22 
476 
214 
♦ All figures in columns 5 to 8 are approximate. 
In the treatment of residential areas it was found that the use of 
DDT emulsion applied by means of mobile power sprayers effected a tremendous 
savings of time, labor and materials in comparison with the use of DDT solu- 
tion applied by knapsack sprayers. 
D, Acknowledgments. 
In all of this work due credit should be given to Messrs. A, Ashcraft, 
F. W. Lloyd, Cusack and Dolan of the Colorado Division of Public Health, 
Mr. Scott, Chief Sanitary Inspector, City of Denver as well as Lt. Colonel 
L. F. Johnson, Major Creitzberg, Mr. R. Simpson and officers and enlisted 
men of the Western Technical Training Command Headquarters, Denver, who par- 
ticipated in this program for their genuine interest and invaluable assistance. 
A. T. Rossano, Jr., Director 
Division of Industrial Hygiene APPENDIX 
!• Pictures of Spraying Procedures. 
2* Map Showing Gross Areas Sprayed. SPRAYING OF ALLEYS AND BACKYARDS BY MEANS OF 
KNAPSACK SPRAYERS CONTAINING 5% DDT IN KEROSENE EXAMPLES OF FLY INFESTATIONS FOUND IN SOME RESIDENTIAL AREAS 
This emphasizes the role of domestic garbage in fly- 
breeding, and the importance of proper domestic 
garbage disposal. Only- "controlled” spray- 
ing of specific areas as against in- 
discriminate spraying can elimi- 
nate such foci of infestation. A RENDERING PLANT — 
An important fly breeding area, 
A 2|$ DDT emulsion was applied by means of a mobile 
tree sprayer. The ground at dumps, stockyards, stables, etc, was 
literally teeming with fly larvae at 1 to 2 inches 
below the surface. 
An Army Decontaminating truck was adapted for use 
in saturating the ground with Diesel Oil contain- 
ing about \/Z% DDT, The Diesel Oil soaked through the debris and effectively 
eliminated the fly larvae. 
Residual spraying alone would have had little or no 
effect on the larvae thriving below the ground surface. Spraying garbage trucks, which had been purposely 
assembled at a central point outside the city 
limits. Knapsack contains DDT in kerosene. Denver Street Index Route 
The letters and figurea after N«"e 
each name refer to the key letter* Leyden St. • Ed300-fl-Q 
and figures around the map. All Lincoln St. ... - EI<»—H-H 
avenues run east and west, and all Lmley Ct. wnmvl5r» 
streets north and south, except m Lipan St. WnOO-F-F 
the diagonal portion of the city. Locust St E64CO-Q-Q 
designates short streets L°gan St. EtO^-H-H 
irunning north and south. ‘•Place" pulst'?n» *v umS|Z!pC 
Fdesignates short avenues running Uiwell Blvd. — WMO-C-C 
east -and west. C* SzE't, 
The house numbers extend north Madison St. EJM&-N-I* 
and aouth from Ellsworth Avenue Magnolia St O 
and east and west from Broadway. Maple Av S140-H-12 
By thing the house number of the Marion St. EUOO—K-K 
Miecls, the street can be easily lo- .J!:lrlpo,sac.St 'wtSSZC l 
street in the alphabetical list of wmlS'l 
catcd by the house number index W3700—B -B 
arou*d the map. , *”ed« Way ■- -»*•U 
In the business district the named JJCX!CO -Av* if 
streets have house numbers ex- Ml WJU^ee St. EJOOO—M-M 
lending northwest from Colfax and Milwaukee Wty cVtrvClit ie 
Broadway. The house numbers of Mississippi Av Sll(»--15-15 
the humarical streets in the busi- Monaco St E65»-Q-Q 
ness {district extend northeast from Moncneff PI. N.1250—C-S 
Collabr Avenue and 1st street. Busi- Monroe St. mwvSGc a 
nessTdistrict streets are not given Mont view Blvd N2000—S-8 
in the house number index around M°^r'son 5, votA_n in 
the edge of the map. Mulberry PI W?t2ln 9° 
Streets having an * before name M7rtle EJ F/attftZR 4 
are f,agonal streets. Cf 
i ..HoiJs<: V Neil PI - N2850—N-6 
Nape Number Key N(.va,ia p). $35. -H-13 
Acoma St. WI00—H-H New Ifaven St. NWI900—G-6 
Adins St E3300—M • M Newport St. E6800-R R 
Alameda Av. S300—13 13 New ton Si. W3800—B-B 
Alaska PI. S452—H-13 Niagara St E6700—R-R 
Albfcn St. E4100— N-N 19th Av ..N1900- 8-8 
AlcJtt St _.\V2500—E-E Mvtn St. —a 'NE190O-G-7 ' 
Alice PI. N4650—F-2 Ninth Av N90O-10-I0 
Annie PI NU.50-A-8 'Ninth St NE900—F-8 
•Aralahoe St NW1I00-J-6 Oak St W47.S0-A-7 
Archer PI. S50—G-12 'Oakley Lane - W1200—G-12 
Arg&le PI N3150—0-5 Ogden St. EIOOO-J-J 
Arizona Av. S1200—15-15 Ohio Av. . .... S800—14-14 
Arkansas Av. SI400—16-16 Olive St. E7000—R-H 
•Arkins Ct. .NW2000—J-3 'Oneida PI R-IO 
As bury Av. S2000—17-17 Oneida St. E6900—R-R 
Ash! St E4300—N-N Osage St. W-140O-F F 
Baldwin Ct. - Elo50— K-3 'Park Av. K-5 
Bannock Si W200-H-H Park PI. N2150-L-7 
Barberry PI N850— D IO Park PI NISO—D-I2 
•Bassett St NW2IOO-F-7 'Paul St W2750-D-9 
Bativia PI N1650—R-8 Pearl St E600— J-J 
Bayaud Ave. S100—12-12 Pecos St. W1700—F F 
Beath Ct W2542—D-2 Penn Av. ..W4700-A 9- 
Beckman PI. N4950—M-2 Pennsylvania St. E500— J-J 
Bclbire St E4300-0-0 ‘Perkins St. H-4 
Benton P! N3350—G-5 Perry St W4000-B-B 
Birdh St E4400—0-0 'Platte St „ NW2400—F-6 
‘Blake St. .. NW150O-H-6 Pontiac St E7IOO-R-R 
‘Bonnie Brae Blvd M 15 Poplar St. - E7200—R-R 
•Bosler PI. ... . C-5 Quebec St E7300-R-R 
•Boulder Ct. NE1550—E-6 Quince St. E7400-S-8 
bCBouJder St. - NW2600—E-6 Quitman St. W4100—B-B 
Iwinghton Blvd. ... NWT800—J-4 Quivas St. W1800—F-F 
0—H-H Race St. - E3000—L-L 
r Bryant St W2600-D-D Raleigh St. W420O-B-B 
Byers P.lace 5240 —H-13 Raritan St. WI700—E-E 
Byrpn PI. N2450-B-7 Richthofen. PI N1I50-R-9 
Cable PI. N1500—D-8 'River Dr. N2300-D-7 
Cahita Ct W300—H-3 Rosemary St 7600-S-S 
•Coin ness PI. N3050— E-6 Roslyn St. E7500—S-S 
•California St, NW70O-H-8 ‘Ross Ct D-6 
Canosa Ct ..W2650—D-D 'Roxburgh Ct. C-5 
Cedar Av _S200—13-13 *Roy Ct D-6 
Center Av. $600—14-14 Ruby PI. N1I75—R-9 
'Central Ct. NEI750-F-6 Sand St .(near Perkins St) 
•Central St. NW2500-E-6 Santa Fe Dr W900—G-1I 
•Champa St. NW900—H-7 Scott PI. — N4550-C-3 
Cherokee St W30O-H-H Second Av N200—12-12 
Chetry St E4IOO-E-E ‘2nd St NE200-E-8 
•Cheistnut PI W2000—F-7 17th Av. N1700— 8-8 
•Cheyenne PI NW 100-H-9 *I7th St NE’700-G-7 
•Cirde Dr . L-ll 7th Av N700-10-10 
Clarkson St E800-J-J •’th St. T4E700—F-8 
Claude Ct. E2250—L-3 Severn PI N750—P-10 
Clay St. W2700—D-D Sheridan Blvd. W5140—A-A 
Clayton St. E2700—M-M Sherman Blvd. E200—H-H 
•Clayton Way M-15 Short PL - — D-ll 
Clermont St. __.E4500—O S Short St. N360O—B-5 
‘Cleveland PI NW200—H-8 Shoshone St. WI90O-E-4 
Clyde PI. - N3750—C-4 Sixteenth Av N1600— 8-8 
Coffhx A. NI450—M-9 *16th St NE1600-G-7 
Colfax Av N150O—9-9 Sixth Av N600-11-11 
Colfax B. NI475—M-9 ‘Sixth St. NE600-E-8 
College PI. S2350—N-18 Speer Blvd. H-IO 
Colorado Av SI800—17-17 Snruce St. E7800—S-S 
Colorado Blvd. E4000-N-N St, Paul St. E-1100-M-M 
Columbine St. E2500—L-L Steavenson PI. N462S—L-3 
Conejos PI. N1550—A-8 Steele St. ' EJ200-M-M 
Cook St E1400—M-M *Stont St. NW800—H-7 
Corona St. EllOO—J-J Stuart St. W4300—B-B 
•Court PI. .NW300—H-8 Syracuse St . E7700—S-S 
Couytland Av. N1475—G-9 Tamarac St. E8000—S-S 
•Cove Way M-15 Tejon St W2000-E-E 
Currigan St. K-4 Tennessee Av. S1000—15-15 
•Curtis St NW1000—H-7 Tennyson St W4400-B-B 
Custer PI. S550—F-14 Tenth Av. N1000-10-10 
Dahlia St. E4800-O-O *I0th St. NE1000—F F 
Dakota Av S400—13-31 3rd Av N300-1M1 
Daly CL. W2750—D-D ‘3rd St NE30O-E-8 
Decatur St. W2800—D-D I3th Av. NI30O- 9-9 
Delaware St. W400-G-G *I3th St NEI30O-F-8 
•Delgany St. NW1900—F-7 30th Av - N3000- 6-6 
Denver PI. .. .. N38S5—D-4 '!0th St. NE30O—J-S 
Detroit St E2800—M il 31st Av N3100— 5-5 
Denier St. E4700-0-0 Mist St NRilOO-J-S 
•Division St ..G-6 32nd Av. N320O— 5-5 
Douglas PI. . D-6 *32nd St NE3200—J-S 
Downing St 33rd Av N3300— 5-5 
•DoAeld PI. D-6 *33rd St NE3300-J-S 
Eighteenth Av. N1800—8-81 34th Av. N3400— 5-5 
*I8thf St NEI800—G-7 M4fh St. NE3400-J-5 
b Eighth Av N800—10-10 35»h Av N350O- 5-5 
■•Eighth St ..NE300-F-8 M5th St NE350O-J-5 
r Elati St W500—G-G 36th Ay. -N3600— 5-5 
EleLenth Av NllOO—9-9 *36th St. NE3600—J-4 
•Eleventh St NEllOO-F-8 37th St N3700-4-4 
Elgin PI N4840—J-2 38th Av .N3800— 4-4 
Elio! St W2900—D-D *38th St NE3800-J-4 
Elizabeth St E2600-L-I, 39th Av N390O- 4-4 
Elk'PI N4750-—F-2 M9th St. NE3900-J-3 
Ellsworth Av. 0—12-12 Thompson Ct. : E2650—M- 3 
EM Ct W2843—D-2 Thrill PI. N3250-P-S 
Elmj St F500—0-0 ‘Trcmont PL NW400—G-8 
•El Retto Ct NW2450—E-6 Trenton St E7900—S-S 
Emerson St E90O-J-J Twelfth Av. N1200— 9-9 
•End St. NW2700—E-6 ‘12th St. NE120O-F-8 
Esplanade E2500—L-8 Twentieth St. N2000—3-8 
St E4900—0-0 *20th, SL . NE2000—G-7 
UglH Av. S2IOO—18-18 21 st Av. N210O—R-7 
Av. S700—14 14 Mist St. NE2100—G-7 
St E5100-P P- 22nd Av ..N2200- 7-7 
■Hw PI NK'200—C-5 M2nd St. NE2200-H-6 
Blvd W’,1000—D-D 23rd Av. N2300— 7 7 
■■■t. .. W2S50—D-5 *23rd St. NE2300—H-6 
St. ... NEI'OO—G-7 24th Av. N2400— 7-7 
K|HAv. N500-11-11 24th St. NE240O-H * 
■Kt. . NEW—E 8 25th Av. N2500— 7-7 
■■h Av. . ... N5000—1-1 25th St. NE2500-H-6 
BHv. N5100— 1-1 26th Av. N2600— 6-6 
.... N5200— I-l ‘26th St NE2600—J-6 
K5300— 1 1 27th Av. N270O— 6-6 
HHv N5400—N-l *27th St. NE2700—J-6 
Ct. E5I50-P 8 28th Av N2800- 6-6 
St E2O0—M M *28th St. NE2800-J-6 
■■■re Way M-15 29th Av. N2900- 6-6 
N100—12-12 ‘29th St. NE2900—J-6 
NE100—E-8 L’inta St. E8200-23T-T 
IBBCt D-6 Ulster St, E810O-S-S 
Av. $1500-16 16 Umatilla St, W210O—E-E 
St. E52DO—P-P University St E2350—L-19 
iiiHth Av. N4000—4-4 Uno Ct. W4450-A 9 
NE4000-K-3 Utica St. W4500—A A 
N4100— 4 4 Vassar Av, .52600—19-19 
■■v. N4200— 3-3 Valentia St. E8300—T-T 
N4.100—- 1-3 Vallejo St. W2200-E-E 
NE4300— K-3 Verbena St E8400—T-T 
N4400— 3• 3 Vine St. -E2100— L-L 
. N450O— .1-3 Virginia Av. S500—13-13 
N4600—- 3-3 Vrain St. W4600—A A 
N4700— 2-2 Wabash St. E8500—T T 
■HMv. .. N4800- 2-2 ‘Walnut St. NW1400—E-8 
... . N4900— 2-2 'Walnut St. NW1400— H 6 
Ct . D 6 Walter Ct. N W1550—G-6 
Av. Ni400—9-0 Warren Av S220—18-18 
HH||. _ . . NE1400—G 8 Washington St. E700—J J 
N400-11 11 ’Water St NW2300—E-7 
NE400—E-8 Watkins PI. . . R-9 
_ W600—G-G *Wazee St. N WI600—G-6 
HHlin St EI600—K-K Wells PI - N1232-A-9 
View Crescent. N220O-D 7 ‘Welton St. NWoOO-H-S 
St W700—G■ G Wesley Av. S2400-19-19 
c. EJ700—N-N West 1st to W. 52nd Av 
RwBrd St E2200-L-I. —N100 to N5200-C-C 
SbSO—F-14 ’Wewatta St ..NW1800-C 6- 
gUSH. s," EI700-K K Williams St. E1800-K-K 
pf" NW500—G-8 Willow St. E3600-T-T 
E5J00—P-F Willow St. J-2 
' * . W2230—E-6 Winona Ct W470O—A-A 
St E30O-H H Wolff St W4800—A-A 
St E3400—P-P Woodbury Ct W2450-E 77 
{■,li .. W3050—C-2 Wyandot St W2W-E-E 
■■-« W3100—C-C 'Wynkoop St. NW1700— G-6 
Hokien Av. H 2 Xanthi St. E8700—T-T 
St - E3900—N-M Xavier St. W4900-A-A 
Av ... S2500—19-19 Xenia St. . E8'00—T-T 
■■ward PI ...... N2950—C-6 Xinca Ct W2D5O-F-I0 
Ct W3142—C-9 Yale Av S2700—19-19 
. Ct W2350—E-6 Yates St. W5000—A-A 
EI900—K-K York St E2100—T-T 
PI N1258—D-9 Yosemite St. E8900—T-T 
$t ” E5600— P-I Yuma St. W2050— E-I2 
St ”' W3200—C-C Zenobia St ..W5100—A A 
■Hard PI. N1356—D-9 Zuni St W2400-E-P 
■« st. K550O-P-P EDGEWATER, LAKESIDE AND 
St - E3W-K K MOUNTAIN VIEW 
c2300—18-18 East and west streets are same 
"" W800—G-G as ‘n Denver. Starting at Denver 
$1600—16 lb c‘,z limits and going west, streets 
w st:":::::—.:: W3.w-c-c are»»fo|i°w»: 
PL N50—H-12 Sheridan Blvd. W'5200—A-7 
SL E5700—P-P Ames St - W5300-A-7 
— . E5800—Q Q Benton St W5400—A-7 
■Bn St.’V.V.V. N380O—N - N Chase St. W5500-A 7 
St E6000—Q Q Depew St. W5600—A-7 
St W1IOO—G-4 Eaton St. W5700—A-7 
■■■ct W3350—C-9 Fenton St W5800—A-7 
IBBy St E5900—Q-Q Gray St W5900-A-7 
Av S1900—17■ I? Harlan St W6000 
§■■1111,0 St. E2400-L-L Ingalls St W6100 
■§■• St - W3400—F-F Jay St. W6200 
St W1000-F F Kendall St W6JOO 
St E6100—Q-Q Lamar St. ..W6400 
Ct. NE1650—F 6 Marshall St. W6500 
Av. S900—15-15 Newlands Street . 
.... W3500—C-C Otis Street 
§■■ Ct. W3443—C-C Pierce Street 
St E6200—Q Q Quay Street 
SL E1400—K K Read Street 
PL D-6 Saulsbury Street - 
Shore Dr. W4450—B 7 Teller Street 
SL NW1300—H-6 Upham Street 
iPB'riM SC NW12D0-H-6 Vance Street 
Webotcv Sbwt - 
Guide Map 
OF 
DENVER 
AND SUBURBS 
COLORADO 
PUBLISHED BY 
HOTCHKISS MAP CO. 
DENVER. COLORADO 
INSERT MAP 
OF 
ENGLEWOOD 
SCALE 
MAP SHOWING GROSS AREAS SPRAYED