Quick, Get the Flit Can!

Photographed by User:Bullenwächter

How many of you know what a Flit Can is?  I can almost guarantee that every household on Goose Creek Island from the 1930's well into the 1960's had one.  This bug spraying gun was used quite regularly for mosquito's, flies or whatever may have come into it's line of fire. 

The Flit insecticide was invented in the late 1920's by chemist Franklin C. Nelson and was manufactured by the Standard Oil Co.  Unknowing to the chemist or the company, but it's lethal ingredient DDT would become known for it's negative environmental issues.

The only Flit Can I can remember was at Grandmama Elma Potter's house.  I don't think I ever saw it used, but I remember is sat on the floor behind the kitchen door.  When I mentioned my theme for today's story to an Islander, this is what I was told: "I remember you had to take the Flit Can to the outhouse so you could sit in peace!"