219 



that they die in a few minutes, even when immediately removed to 

 another " receptacle. When thoroughly wet the powder _ loses its 

 effectiveness. Species with short, thick air tubes are easily killed, 

 Culex spp. with long, slender tubes being more resistant, C. abominator 

 proving to be especially so. 



NuTTALL (G. H. F.). Combating Lousiness among Soldiers and 

 Civilians. — Parasitology, Cambridge, x, no. 4, May 1918, 

 pp. 411-586, 13 plates, 26 figs. 



In this paper infestation by Pediculus humanus and Phthirius pubis 

 is dealt with in detail. Emphasis is laid on the prevention of these 

 pests by means of education, cleanliness and frequent inspection. 

 The best methods for the mechanical removal of lice from the head, 

 body and clothing are described, and the various remedies and 

 repellents in use are discussed. The destruction of lice by heat_ is 

 entered into fully, numerous illustrations and plans of steam disin- 

 fectors and hot-air disinfection huts being given. A report of experi- 

 ments with pediculicides and reputed remedies, and an alphabetical 

 list of insecticides with statements regarding their eflS.cacy, are also 

 included in this work, which concludes with a copious bibliography. 



Dennys (Col. G. W. P.). Destruction of Rats as a Means for the 

 Prevention of Plague. —I ndiati Med. Gaz., Calcutta, lii, nos 1 & 5, 

 January & May 1918, pp. 1-5 & 164-168. 



The statement in the Annual Report of the Sanitary Commissioner 

 with the Government of India to the effect that experience in Satara 

 indicates that continuous rat-trapping carried out inteUigently and 

 with enthusiasm is sufficient to keep a town free from plague is 

 criticised in this paper. A previous note by the author on the subject 

 of the merits or demerits of an anti-rat campaign, written in 1915, 

 is quoted in full. The view adopted is that it is the rat-flea rather 

 than the rat that must be exterminated if plague is to be entirely 

 eliminated from large towns in which there are conditions favourable 

 for rat-breeding, and that so long as rat-fleas have rats to feed upon 

 thev will not attack man. It is also stated that where chronic flea 

 infestation is present, plague becomes endemic, and where seasonal 

 infestation occurs, there are epidemics of plague. 



In the second of these articles the author analyses the results of 

 anti-rat campaign in a number of districts, and alleges that not only 

 do the figures show rat destruction to be useless as a means for the 

 prevention of plague outbreaks, but in several of the towns referred 

 to there is strong reason for thinking that the attempt to reduce the 

 normal rat population of a town has tended to increase the chance 

 of that town becoming plague-infected. They also seem to show 

 that towns previously plague-infected at which no rat destruction 

 was attempted are not more prone to a recrudescence of the disease 

 than those in which vigorous and systematic rat campaigns were 

 conducted. The author admits that he has no alternative suggestions 

 for combating plague, but hopes that those who are now in a position 

 to do so may be able to devise some method whereby the unlimited 



