338 OUR HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



like reasons they coat their bodies with a layer of mud." 

 The Esquimaux are said to make use of a little stick 

 ending like a spatula, to scratch themselves; with it 

 they can more easily reach their backs and dive into 

 the depths of their clothing. 



Many remedies have been proposed against these 

 vermin, but to secure immunity from their attacks it 

 should always be borne in mind that the prime requisite, 

 which is the foundation of everything else, is cleanliness. 

 For although there is no truth in the old idea of their 

 being spontaneously generated from dirt, yet uncleanly 

 conditions seem to constitute a peculiarly favourable 

 environment for the introduction and propagation of the 

 species. Frequent head-washing, therefore, especially in 

 the case of children, is of the utmost importance, and 

 yet it is surprising what an antipathy many people have 

 to letting water come in contact with their head; it 

 would seem that this is one of the last parts of his body, 

 which, in the advance of civilisation, man is prepared to 

 submit to the action of soap and water, though, as being 

 exposed to all sorts of begriming influences, it certainly 

 is not the part which needs it least. The habit of using 

 oil, pomatum, and other greasy compounds on the hair, 

 now happily declining, though objectionable for other 

 reasons, had its uses, and was advantageous as a pre- 

 ventive against these parasites, since oily matters tend 

 to clog up their spiracles and so suffocate them. Horrible 

 mixtures were formerly recommended as means of exter- 

 mination, e.g., Mouffet advises a compound made of hogs' 

 blood mixed with wine and essence of roses. The only 

 true preventives are personal cleanliness and isolation, 

 or avoidance of contact with those on whom the insects 

 are found. For curative purposes, a wash made by 

 boiling cheap tobacco in water has been recommended, 





