HEALTH NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 17

HEALTH NOTES

LICE

METHODS OF DISINFECTION

(Contributed by the Department of

Health.)

From a hygienic point of view these wingless insects are now given a. much more important position than they formerly occupied. Prior to the war they were looked upon more as an index of personal cleanliness than as a public health problem.

Historically, we know, that in the times of our forefathers it was not uncommon to see lousy people. In fact, it was common to find lice-infest-ed persons from the lowest to the highest social scales—nobles and serfs were alike infested. It was indeed not looked upon as a shameful condition. The carrying and use of a "scratching stick" was anything but unusual. These "scratching sticks" were so designed that they could be slipped under the clothing and were used.to alleviate itching on the more inaccessible regions of the body. Indeed, these insects have even been anathematised in verse, and no doubt many readers will have read the poem of the famous Scottish bard on the subject. Gradually, however, oar complacency with regard t5 the pest has departed until now an infestation of these creatures is usually looked upon by decent people with abhorrence and held a s a dark and dismal secret to be concealed, if possible, from their most intimate friends. There -are three varieties of lice that are found to infest the human body:, (a) Pediculas capitis or head louse; (b) Pediculus corporis, or body louse; (c) Pediculus pubis, orcrab louse. (This third /variety will not be discussed here.) These parasites are spread from person to person, usually by contact. This contact may be with the actual person infested; such a s would occur during sleep, close contact in school, tram car, railway carriages, etc. They also may be acquired by contact, with infested garments,, either directly or indirectly. An unoccupied dwelling does, not remain infested with lice; therein they differ from fleas and. bugs. The presence of lice in a dwelling, indicates very recent occupation, certainly within ten days. A house that has been vacated for ten | days may be regarded as free from liceinfestation. [ DISINFECTION.

By this is meant freeing of the body and clothes frpm"lice and their eggs or aits. Various methods are used to achieve this object: (1) Hand picking —the oldest, most natural, and least effective method. This is the method adopted by monkeys and primitive peoX ,2) Brusning— especially after the clothing has been exposed to the cool night air. The parasites are then torpid, and can more readily be brushed off. But eggs are not affected.' The operation must therefore be carried out daily over a considerable period of time. (3) Ironing—This is an improvement on the two previous methods. The iron must be heavy,*.and as hot as can possibly be used on the clothing under treatment. Special featment should be paid to seams and thicker portions of the garment so as to allow the heat to penetrate. (4) Dry storage. Any garment may be freed from lice by, storing rt for a period in a dry atmosphere. The ivarmor and drier the air the quicker is the result achieved. The lice die out and eggs are either hatched or die. If they hatch the young parasite soon dies. (5) Heat: -The application of heat either moist or dry is the most useful and practical method of disinfecting clothing. Immersion in boiling water almost instantly kills both lice and their eggs. For woollen garments, of course, a more moderate temperature must be used; and therefore a longer period of exposure is required. After the hciat has penetrated" all garments, a further exposure to a temperature of U3O degree Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, is quite sufficient.; If the lice are suspected to be carrying infection, say, of trench fever, a temperature of 140 deg. Jf\. must be maintained. Various types of disinfec.tors are used for the purpose when it is. necessary to disinfect on a large scale..

CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS. Various chemical solutions may be used to destroy lice and their eggs. The'following is one of the usual solutions made use of: Lysol, oae tablespoonful in 2i pints of- water. The ciothing must bo soaked at least half an hour at a temperature that is distinctly hot to the hand. ; ! Most of the above methods refer only to clothing. It is, of course, of little use to cleanse the clothing and pay no I attention to the lice or nits that may Ibe on hair in various parts of the j body. Many "different .substances -are used. Here we will describe only one of the methods taken in ttie case of liceinfested, heads; The hair should be cut close aiid all clippings burnt. Paraffin oil or an emulsion containing it should then be rhbbed-into the ha.ir, after which a towel should bei ■ wrapped turban-wise around the head for at least an hour. After: the towel is removed the head should be weH shampooed and combed, using a comb with fine teeth. .If. there tare many ''nits" in the hair, it may require a preliminary treatment with a 10 per cent, solution of acetic acid, or, as a substitute, warm vinegar. This will loosen the nits and make their removal easier. .

The addition of a small amount of eucalyptus oil or tar oil increases the efficacy .of the paraffin. The treatment must be thorough and may require to be repeated in about 10 days' time. Occasionally the paraffin irritates, and so it is safer, to use a-30 per cent, emulsion of paraffin and olive, oil. This is less irritating to delicate skins. Kemembor that "thoroughness" must be your watchword. LICE AND DISEASE. As a carrier of disease lice do not occupy an important positon in this Dominion. in some other countries, however, they act as "carriers" in ; trench fever, typhus fever, and relapsing fever. The injury to the skin, however, consequent on scratching in the effort to relieve irritation 'may lead to infection of various organisms. This causes the condition of pustular sores and scabs so often seen in liceinfested people. Bern ember that strict cleanliness both of the body and the clothing is the best preventive against lice-infestation. : .