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From: kwp@mhuxd.UUCP (PEABODY)
Newsgroups: net.rec,net.rec.nude
Subject: Re: Mosquitoes, other nasties
Message-ID: <1961@mhuxd.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 20-May-85 16:27:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: mhuxd.1961
Posted: Mon May 20 16:27:04 1985
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References: <2389@mit-hermes.ARPA>
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> It's the season to be....bitten. What methods exist, apart from the application
> of diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) in large quantities, to protect oneself from 
> biting insects? In particular, are there any foods one can eat that would repel
> them? I have heard that garlic is exuded through the skin (and breath) and that
> insects dislike it, but that eating bananas will attract them. And there is a 
> company selling a product they call "skeeter tabs" that claim to be an "oral
> repellant"--has anyone tried it? And is it safe for humans, apart from its 
> effect on bugs? I'm more interested in this subject this year because I'm 
> going on a 10-day canoe trip in central Canada in July, and I can't see hauling
> a 55-gallon drum of Off along, nor do I want to hear my girlfriend's usual 
> remarks about how I have the aroma of a Sunoco station. Itching, of course, is
> no fun either.
> 
> John Purbrick 
> {...decvax!genrad!  ...allegra!mit-vax!} mit-eddie!mit-hermes!jpexg

I have heard that Avon Skin-so-soft works very well against even black flies.  
Several different people have told me this, but I have never had an occassion to try it myself.