530 
Combating Lousiness 
Kef. 
No. 
404. Iodoform, for corporis on clothing that is being worn. 
Prowazek states that it was used in the Danish war and recom¬ 
mended. 
Expt 68: some lice survived 12 hrs burial in it. Expt 90: on man, 
some lice survived 4 hrs contact with it. Expts 166-167: lice resist 
vapour in vitro for days. Expt 242: lice survived twice 10 hrs 
exposure to the vapour on man’s body; see also Expts 90, 259. 
Iodoform is therefore of little or no value (see further under 
No. 428). 
405. Larkspur tincture, for capitis. 
Recommended by Sobel as an alternative treatment to that 
with petroleum and olive oil and applied in the same way (see 
No. 451). 
406. Lysol 2 %, with soft soap, for corporis. 
Dore recommends that it be lathered on the skin and allowed 
to dry. 
Expt 26: 2 % lysol solution killed nits in 5 minutes when im¬ 
mersed. Expt 169: lice lived for days exposed to vapour. Expt 
352: pubis killed by immersion in 2 % lysol solution for 5 minutes. 
(See p. 582, note to Bacot and Lloyd, and No. 455 a.) 
407. Malinin's fluid, for capitis and corporis. 
This fluid consists of Oleum terebinthinae rossicum, petroleum, 
pyrethrum, carbolic acid, and 01. cinnamoni (for details of pre¬ 
paration see Malinin), and it is recommended for the treatment of 
head-lice and soaking underclothes to keep away body-lice. 
Shevirov states it was formerly used against mosquitoes in the 
Caucasus, that it has no injurious effect on the health or skin, but 
that it irritates the mucous membranes. As it injures rubber it 
should be applied to clothing by means of a metal spray. (There 
is nothing to indicate that the complex recipe has any particular 
virtue.) 
408. Mercury, for capitis, corporis and pubis. 
Recommended for lice in the 11th century by Avicenna, in the 
Book of Quinte Essence (1460-70), by Sennertus (lived 1572-1637), 
etc., see p. 516. 
Unguentum hydrargyri (Mercury or Blue ointment), Brit. Pharm., 
consists of mercury 30 g., benzoated lard 1 65 g., prepared suet 5 g. 
An old remedy for pubis infestation which consists in anointing 
1 See footnote to No. 463. 
