91 



GuNN (J. A.). A Note on the Prevention of Pediculosis.— BnV. Med. 

 Jl, London, no. 2910, 5th May 1917, pp. 579-580. 



The experiment of impregnating thin cotton undervests with a 

 sokible insecticide was made in the spring of 1915. The insecticide 

 used was a solution of 1|- oz. each of naphthaline and sulphur in 1 gal. 

 of benzol or petrol, the cost at that time being about one farthing 

 per garment. The result was perfectly satisfactory, the shirts proving 

 excellent for scabies, causing no irritation, and actually killing the lice, 

 though rather slowly, as they pass several days in a dormant state 

 before dying. The vests have even been used under plaster jackets 

 without causing irritation and form a complete protection against 

 lice. 



FuRNo (A.). La Lotta contro la Pediculosi fra le Truppe in Guerra. 



[The Control of Pediculosis among Troops in War.] — Annali 

 d'Igiene, Rome, xxvii, no. 3, 31st March 1917, pp. 141-157. 



In the trenches sachets worn between the outer and under garments 

 provide the only practical means of keeping troops free from lice. 

 The best formula was found to be : — Coarse naphthaline, 50 parts by 

 weight, and either creosote, 1 part, or camphor, 5 parts. The camphor 

 mixture is less strong and lasting. When the troops are out of the 

 trenches, their clothing can be treated with steam under pressure at a 

 temperature of 239°-248° F., but this method has the disadvantage 

 of being a lengthy process and involving drying. Dry heat at 178°- 

 195° F. is most efficacious and does not injure the grey-green cloth of 

 the uniform. Most excellent results were attained by boiling in water 

 to which 3 per cent, of potassium pentasulphide (K^ Sg ) had been added. 

 In these experiments the samples were boiled for 15 minutes and then 

 washed in ordinary cold water. The use of sulphur dioxide (SO-) is 

 not advised, as it has no effect on the eggs. 



Gumming (J. D.). Report of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases 

 for February 1917. A R6sum6 of the Typhus Situation in 

 Calif ornia.^M^AZy. Bull. Gal. State Bd. Health, Sacramento, xii, 

 no. 10, April 1917, pp. 213-217. 



The appearance of typhus in California during the spring of 1916, 

 among the Mexican immigrants employed on the railroads, and its 

 subsequent increase led the State Board of Health to institute control 

 measures in the autumn to prevent its becoming endemic in the cities. 

 The regulations included the enforcement of louse-eradication measures 

 in the section camps, the establishment of observation camps and the 

 reporting to the Board of all new arrivals from Mexico. A weekly bath 

 with kerosene and warm water followed by a complete change of 

 clothing was made compulsory for all camp occupants. These 

 regulations were printed in Spanish and posted in each section camp, 

 with the result that louse-infestation was practically eliminated, and 

 the number of typhus cases so much reduced, that the fear of its 

 becommg endemic no longer existed in the spring of 1917. 



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