98 THE BODY-LOUSE OF MAN. 



Peruvian mummy. The lice infesting the heads of negroes 

 are darker, but among Caucasians also colored varieties are 

 not uncommon. 



This louse (fig. 66) is too well known to require a de- 

 tailed description; the male is 1 to 1.5mm. long, the female 

 almost 2mm. The white eggs or 

 "nits," 0.6mm. long, are elongated 

 oval, with several little conical prom- 

 inences at their large ends, which are 

 open at the top, while the small end 

 bears a cluster of bristles. About fifty 

 eggs are glued at their pointed ends 

 to hairs; in about six days the young- 

 hatch, grow rapidly, and after shed- 

 ding their skins three times reach their 

 "^ adult condition in about three weeks. 



Fig. 66. — Head-iowse ot ^)^q youug llcc rcscmblc thc adult 



man. Greatly enlarged. - ^ 



Original. oucs cxccpt in sizc; they are also less 



distinctly marked. The belief often expressed that a female 

 louse could become a grandmother in the course of twenty- 

 four hours is of course absurd. 



As the habits of these parasites are so well known, and 

 the treatment of getting rid of them is familiar to those 

 most interested in such matters, it is needless to mention 

 them. Cleanliness and the application of hair-oils, etc., are 

 good preventive measures. A little benzine is deadly for 

 such intruders, but being very inflammable it should not be 

 applied when near a light or fire, otherwise the hairs with 

 their inhabitants might be removed. Sulphur ointment and 

 white precipitate are also well-known remedies against these 

 insects. 



THE BODY-LOUSE OF MAN. 



{Pediculus vestimentl Leach). 



This species has received a number of names on account 

 of some fancied peculiarities. They closely resemble the 

 head-louse but are larger, the female measuring as much as 

 2mm. to 4mm. The smaller males are not as numerous as 

 the females. The eggs, 0.8 to 1.0mm. long, 0.8mm. broad^ 



