542 Combating Lousiness 
Ref. 
No. 
440. Oil of olives, see p. 486 on the effect of greasy substances, also 
Nos. 451-2, 374, 377-8, etc., where it is used as a vehicle or ad¬ 
junct. 
441. Oil of sassafras, for capitis. 
After combing and brushing out the obvious lice, dip brush in the 
oil and brush hair well. Plait and coil hair, apply close-fitting cap 
over all and retain it in place for 24 hrs. This kills all lice; comb out 
the nits. Recommended for institutional treatment and nurses 
approve of it. The oil costs about 3s. Qd. a pint, this being enough 
for 30 children. The smell is an objection (Raven). Allan recom¬ 
mends it but notes it soils pillows, etc. Shipley states that it is 
commonly used at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond 
Street, London, the oil being applied at night with a swab to the 
scalp and the hair being gathered into a butter muslin cap tied at 
the top of the head; in the morning the hair is well washed with 
soap and water 1 . 
442. Oil of turpentine, for capitis and corporis (01. terebinth, rect.). 
Used since the seventeenth century for hospital pediculosis at 
Kolosvar. The pure oil does not irritate the skin or affect the 
kidneys, the smell is not unpleasant and it does not soil clothes. 
Marschalko has used it for many years for head-lice on women and 
children. It is cheap and not so inflammable as benzine. Applica¬ 
tion: spray or wet head with oil, bandage head with flannel cloth 
held in place by loosely applied muslin bandage and wear dressing 
overnight, the lice being dead in the morning (Marschalko). 
Nysten and also Renault recommend rubbing it on the hair, but 
give no further instructions; it is stated to kill head-lice rapidly. 
Sprayed on the bodies of soldiers with satisfactory results in the 
trenches in Bukowina; it kills corporis (lice and nits) and does not 
irritate skin or soil clothing. No toxic effects follow its inhalation 
if there is good ventilation (Marschalko). It is also recommended 
by Nysten (1858) and Renault (1915). It may be applied on a 
cotton pledget or as an ointment; it is effective when impregnating 
underclothes but evaporates too fast for practical purposes. 
(Engelhardt.) 
Expts 211-213: vapour killed lice in 24 hrs but nits were un¬ 
affected by 6 days’ exposure. Expt 269: lice survived 6 hrs exposure 
to vapour near man’s body. It doubtless acts chiefly by contact. 
] See experiments with repellants, p. 488. 
