46 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 12 



taining complete insect disinfection. We have reported^ that the 

 laundry processes are thoroughly efficient delousing processes and that 

 each step in the laundry formula, washing, drying, and ironing, can of 

 itself be so regulated as to completely kill all lice. Furthermore, if 

 very resistant spore-bearing bacilli are suspected of being in the clothes, 

 a live steam sterilization may precede the wash with absolutely no in- 

 jury to the garments. 



This primarily entomological question led to exhaustive studies of 

 the shrinkage of woolens and the bactericidal value of each process in 

 the laundry, and even to actual changes in laundry practice. In like 

 manner, the dry-cleaning processes were studied and developed from 

 each point of view. It was interesting to find that the usual 45-minute 

 gasoline soaking in the wash wheel, and even an hour's soaking, was 

 not effective against all eggs, but the second step in the process, the 

 drying in the dry tumbler, completed the control. 



Many people have suggested that chemicals placed on clothing 

 would be effective repellents against the louse, and in fact there is con- 

 siderable on the subject in European literature, but it was not based on 

 scientific principles of research. This fact led to the exhaustive studies 

 of Dr. William Moore and Dr. A. B. Hirschfelder on impregnation of 

 garments. Then the Chemical Service started to impregnate gar- 

 ments against gases and finally the two efforts were welded into one. 

 Whether we find what we are after or not, this work has already 

 greatly enriched entomology and chemistry with a knowledge of the 

 effectiveness of many chemicals as insecticides, the duration of their 

 effectiveness, and their effects on clothing and skin. 



The subject of insect repellents has been studied more thoroughly 

 and scientifically than ever before. Many of the repellents and im- 

 pregnation chemicals used in these tests were synthesized by Dr. 

 Hirschfelder, and members of the Chemical Warfare Service. 



The louse problem is not the only one which has yielded new phases 

 to entomological practice. In the mosquito extermination work 

 Lieut. E. C. Ebert of the Marine Corps, at Quantico, developed a sub- 

 mersible oil distributor, and also worked out many ways of spreading 

 oil by means of oil impregnated sawdust. In the June number of the 

 Journal of Economic Entomology, Freeborn and Atsatt contrib- 

 uted a very valuable paper on the effects of the petroleum oils on 

 mosquito larvaB, which taken together with Dr. Moore's papers on the 

 toxicity of vapors to insects will greatly advance our knowledge of 

 insect control. 



The fly problem in the camps led to many ingenious sanitary meas- 

 ures for handling garbage, manure and sewage to prevent fly breeding. 



' National Laundry Journal, vol. 81, pp. 4-14, Jan. 1, 1919. 



