#G. H. F. Nuttall 
557 
Ref. 
No. 
“fairly efficient”) and is best applied as an ointment rubbed on 
the body from the head to the knees every 3-7 days. 
Expts 92, 287: lice in contact therewith on impregnated cloth 
worn on man were unaffected by 9, or 6|—10^- hrs exposure. 
Expt 272: when exposed to vapour under otherwise similar con¬ 
ditions they mostly survived 9 hrs exposure. Expt 328: exposed 
to the vapour it was only after 12 hrs that 15 % were killed, there 
being possibly some contact action as well. Expt 360: pubis 
immersed in 2 % watery solution was killed in 5 minutes. The 
experimental evidence does not bear out Lefroy’s assertions re¬ 
garding this article; he has however defended his standpoint (vide 
p. 90 of discussion following Bacot, iv. 1917) on the ground that 
experience in the field has justified his claims as to its efficiency. 
We leave it to time to decide the matter. 
Vinegar, see Acetic acid. 
474. Xylol, for capitis, corporis arid pubis. 
For capitis it is recommended as a head lotion by Borne when 
few insects are present; the treatment, repeated every few days, 
is followed by soaping and washing. Castellani and Chalmers 
advise merely dabbing it on which scarcely seems to me sufficient. 
Heusner’s recommendations are better: Bind a strip of parchment 
paper, 10-15 cm. wide, around the head with a bandage; place a 
layer of wadding inside and close up to the paper; sprinkle the 
wadding with xylol, and cover it with a disc of cardboard previously 
cut to shape; place a bandage over all; where the hair is thick 
spray the wadding 2-3 times with xylol. Renault prescribes xylol- 
vaseline (30 g. containing 90 drops of xylol) to be rubbed on the 
hair. Xylol-alcohol (1:1) gives good results but irritates the skin 
and cannot be used where excoriations are present (Lagane). Xylol 
and ether (1:1) or xylol-ether and alcohol (1:2) are recommended 
for head-lice by Allan to be applied as described under No. 449, 
the latter prescription being preferred as equally good and cheaper. 
For corporis xylol-vaseline (2 drops to 1 g.) may be applied to 
the body with benefit as Prof. Mary informed me in Aug. 1915, or 
spray xylol upon the clothing, where Heusner states it “kills al¬ 
most at once” (untrue, the insects merely being immobilized). It 
is useless when dropped on clothing that is in use (Kisskalt). 
Rapeseed oil containing 5 % xylol is advocated by Arning (cit. 
Prowazek). 
36—2 
