556 
Combating Lousiness 
Ref. 
No. 
470. Trichloraethylene, for corporis in clothing. 
Ragg’s directions are: turn the clothes inside out; lay them in 
layers in an air-tight box, spraying each layer as it is laid in; 
close the box overnight. On the next day air the clothes 1-2 
hrs, brush and beat them. Metal buttons are not tarnished. The 
fluid is not inflammable (boils at 88° C.). Use 3-4-5 kilos per cbm. 
space. 
Expt 237: the vapour is stated to kill lice in 30 minutes; no 
evidence as to nits. 
471. Tricresol powder (3 %), for corporis. 
Recommended by Herxheimer and Nathan. Expt 238: the 
vapour had no effect on lice in 1 hr. Expt 283: dusted on heavily 
infested men it had no visible effect after 24 hrs. 
Trioxymethylene, see No. 370, last § but one. 
472. Turpentine, for pubis. 
For pubis', use a turpentine lotion (Nysten). A bath containing 
turpentine and tobacco infusion is recommended by Whiting 
(Bryant, 1838). 
Vaseline is frequently used as a vehicle for various insecticides. 
Veratrine, see Sabadilla. 
473. Vermijelli, for corporis. 
A proprietary remedy recommended by Lefroy who is responsible 
for the statement that it consists of Bottom oil (cracking point 
600° C.) 20 pts, Texas fuel oil (sp. gr. 0-86; boiling point 200-350° C.) 
50 pts, pure soft soap 30 pts, water (about) 6 pts. (1) Used as a 
prophylactic: smear the skin and hair, inside of stockings, socks, 
boots or puttees and along seams of clothing, at neck and wrists. 
It can be used as a soap when bathing and a little may be rubbed 
on the skin afterwards. (2) To destroy lice on infested persons: 
apply as before, and dust the body and inside of underclothes with 
N.C.I. powder (see No. 428). Lefroy moreover states that vermi¬ 
jelli emulsion kills lice when used for washing infested clothing and 
that the latter, on being wrung out and dried, protects against 
reinfestation. Vermijelli is stated to be non-inflammable and non¬ 
toxic. On the grounds of Lefroy’s statements it was recommended 
in a War Office leaflet that f oz. be rubbed into the seams of the 
coat and trousers of soldiers and used in conjunction with N.C.I. 
powder. Lelean recommends that 1 oz. be applied once weekly 
per man. Peacock states that it is very effective (Expt 97: only 
