216 ENTOMOLOGY FOR MEDICAL OFFICERS 



in colour, but also in the form and proportion of the tarsi 

 and claws — especially those of the front legs — these grasping 

 organs being nicely adapted to the calibre of the individual 

 hairs of each particular race of man. 



Genus Fhthirius. One species is known, Phthirius 

 inguinalis, Leach (Fig. 96), the " Crab " louse, which is 

 particularly at home in the hairs of the pubis, though it is 

 not restricted to that situation. It is distinguished from 

 other lice by its broad squat body, and by the line of three 

 spiracles on each side of the 2nd abdominal segment. 

 The abdomen consists of 6 segments, and its sides are strongly 



Fig. 06 Phthirius ingmnolis^ male, 



festooned. The first pair of legs are decidedly more slender 

 than the others ; in the second and third legs the claws are 

 very massive and are bent like talons, and the thumb of the 

 tibiae is prominent. The species often goes by the name of 

 " Pediculus pubis." 



Other species of Pedicuhdcs may occasionally attack man. 



In ordinary civil life lice are found only on dirty people ; 

 but the vicissitudes of travel or of arduous military service 

 may occasionally bring even the most fastidious of us into 

 contact with these despicable enemies of mankind. Soap 

 and water and any of the familiar antiseptics will get rid of 

 them ; paraffin is efficacious in the absence of any pleasanter 

 antidote. Clothing and bedding can be boiled or baked. 



