17 



Ligu9 Sanitaire Francaise centre la mouche et le rat. [French sanitary 

 league against the fly and the rat.] — Circulars and Bulletins issued 

 April 1914 to September 1915. Offices, 72, Rue de Rome, Paris. 



This Society was founded on 21st February 1914 with the object of 

 directing popular attention to the losses caused by diseases which are 

 so far prevent ible in that they are carried by animals and insects, the 

 destruction of which would very materially limit their spread. The 

 president of the Society is Professor R. Blanchard, the Ministers of 

 Agriculture, the Colonies, Commerce, Finance, War, Marine and the 

 Interior are honorary presidents and the honorary committee com- 

 prises a number of well known French savants. 



The following publications have already been issued : — The first 

 bulletin (April 1914) consists of a report of the inaugural meeting. The 

 second (July 1914), besides a report of the second meeting held on 

 22nd June 1914, (ontains reprints of articles from a number of 

 important French newspapers urging the public to support the League, 

 explaining its objects and pointing out the great value of the work 

 which it seeks to accomplish. The third bulletin (20th February 

 1915), is entitled " La lutte contre les poux " [the struggle against lice] 

 from the pen of Professor Blanchard, being intended for the assistance 

 of soldiers in the field. A brief popular description of the three species 

 of lice usually infesting human beings and of the manner in which 

 they spread is given. Soldiers are warned that lice are the carriers of 

 recurrent fever and exanthematous typhus, and a very practical chapter 

 is devoted to methods of destruction. The use of ointments is not 

 recommended, as they often irritate the skin and soil the clothing ; 

 applications of camphorated alcohol, or warm vinegar containing 

 1 per 1,000 of corrosive sublimate, infusion of pyrethrum powder, 

 petrol or benzine are recommended. The use of these lotions should 

 be repeated two or three days later as the eggs are not killed by them. 

 Against body lice it is sufficient to change the clothing and spray the 

 garments with benzine. Motor spirit used -with a sponge and followed 

 by a hard brush, especially along the seams, is efficacious ; even 

 tobacco smoke blown vmder the clothing through a rubber tube is 

 very useful, though it does not kill the eggs. Anisol at 3-5 per cent, 

 kills both lice and eggs almost immediately, but the cost is prohibitive. 

 Members of a disinfection staff are advised to wear long overalls and 

 brush their hands and arms with camphorated alcohol ; in the trenches, 

 the straw should be renewed as often as possible and the fouled straw 

 burned ; all woodwork should be sprayed with cresyl. 



The fourth bulletin, also by Professor Blanchard, deals with the 

 disposal of the dead in war time, and the Japanese method as 

 carried out in Manchuria is described and illustrated. Dr. R. D. 

 de la Riviere contributes an article on the danger to men of various 

 parasites. Another paper sets forth a sketch of a campaign against 

 flies, and the use of the cinematograph is strongly urged in order to 

 convince uneducated people of the actuahty of the danger from flies. 

 " Pure water and no insects " is the title of another paper. 



The fifth bulletin (25th August 1915) is entitled " La lutte contre 

 la mouche " [the struggle against the fly], with 25 figures, and 

 deals with the general character and bionomics of the more im- 

 portant Dipterous pests. On the battle-field Callijjhora erytkrocephala, 



(C239) Wt.P12/91. 1500. 2.16. B.&F.Ltd. G.11/3. a 



