A New Pediculicide

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XV, Issue 3, 1 July 1922, Page 137

A New Pediculicide

A non-toxin, non-irritating, inexpensive and efficient pediculicide sulp. bilesalts as the article is described by Peters in "The British MedJcal Journal" of February 18th, 1920 :— Sodium taurocholate, 10 grams ; 01. Eucalyptol, 50 grams; water to 1,000 c.c. Dissolve the bile salt completely in water, add the eucalyptus oil, and shake well. To use, rub in thoroughly till the hair is completely wet. Put on a rubber bathing cap, or wrap the head in a towel. Leave on all night, and in the morning

wash well with soap and water. Use a fine-tooth comb daily for two weeks. A second application is seldom necessary. The formula has as its underlying theory the fact that bile salts assist the passage of emulsions of fats through membranes by lowering surface tension, and hence assist the penetration of the louses' eggs by oily emulsions. The non-inflam-mability of the mixture, and the fact that it destroys all forms except the most recently deposited eggs, add greatly to its value.