THE ANIMAL PARASITES OF MAN 



Pediculus capitis and Phthirus pubis are shown to be successfully 

 controlled by applying spirit extract of sabadilla and both white and 

 grey mercury ointment, solution of corrosive sublimate of a strength 

 of i in 250 to i in 100, amyl and ethyl alcohol, benzine, chloroform, 

 carbon tetrachloride, methane, birch tar, liquid of malinin, etc. The 

 control of Pediculus vestiiiienti by the mixture of tartaric acid and 

 sodium sulphite slightly moistened with water is advised. It is placed 

 in small linen bags underneath the shirt ; the heat of the body produces 

 a reaction which continues for two days, giving off a large amount of 

 SO 2 , which spreads beneath the shirt and kills all the parasites but does 

 not affect the skin. Marzinovsky, in the same Proceedings (pp. 56-68), 

 gives a number of remedies for Pediculus vestimenti (called humanus), 

 and mentions quinine or mercury, which latter the natives in Tur- 

 kestan carry on their hands and legs in bracelets soaked in mercury 

 compounds. He also mentions ethereal oils, the most effective being 

 clove oil, eucalyptus, oil of anise and camphor. He recommends for 

 disinfecting clothing for army purposes the chamber used by the 

 Japanese on a large scale. Kummerfelds' wash is advised, and is pre- 

 pared as follows : 20 parts of precipitated sulphur are incorporated in 

 a mortar with 50 parts of glycerine ; 2 parts of camphor are separately 

 ground with 50 of eau-de-Cologne and 20 of borax, and 870 parts of 

 distilled water are added ; the whole is mixed together and 3 drops of 

 an extract of musk are added ; shake in order to prevent the sulphur 

 settling down; 50 parts of ether are added to the mixture. This 

 sounds an expensive and troublesome preparation to make. 



Shipley A. E., " Flowers of Sulphur and Lice/' Brit. Med. Jouni., 

 1915, p. 295. It is here stated by Dr. Lounsbury that the South 

 African troops were supplied by the Government with bags of flowers 

 of sulphur sewn in small calico bags and secured to the underclothing 

 next the skin as a preventive of lice. The bags were 2 in. square, 

 one on the trunk and one against each leg. This is a generally 

 accepted preventive, but is best mixed with equal parts of creosote 

 and naphthalene. 



Shipley, A. E., " Insects and War," Brit. Med. Jonrn., September 

 19 to November 14, 1914. General advice given re lice. 



