The clothing and body should be treated as directed just before going to the trenches. Preparations such as N.C.I., consisting of naphthalene, creosote, and iodoform, are used about every four days for best results. Old clothing should be removed. For delousing purposes, gasoline or benzine baths are effective, but care must be taken to avoid fire hazards. Vermijelli, a mixture of soft soap, mineral oil, and water, is applied weekly to the seams of clothing to destroy young lice as they hatch. In Pershing's expedition, 3 gallons of gasoline per man were necessary for delousing purposes. Ironing clothes with hot irons, especially along seams, can also be effective in killing lice and their eggs. For cleansing the body itself, bathing or sponging with soap solutions containing trichlorethylene or tetrachlorethane is recommended. A 25% solution of trichlorethylene in vaseline applied daily to the skin would form an efficient insecticidal ointment but may have an unpleasant odor. Sulphur fumigation, using at least 10% sulphur dioxide with moist atmospheric air, is reliable for rats, bedbugs, lice, and fleas. Disinfection is not complete within less than 12 hours. In Germany, every soldier is de-loused before leaving the front, and a card certifying treatment must be shown at railway stations. A thousand men can be de-loused in an hour using steam from a locomotive to sterilize clothing and dry heat for leather goods. After sterilization, hair and body hair are cut or shaved, followed by soaping and scrubbing.
Key Takeaways
- Regular delousing is essential to prevent the spread of lice in military settings.
- Effective delousing methods include gasoline or benzine baths, ironing with hot irons, and using insecticidal ointments.
- Sulphur fumigation can be used for thorough disinfection but requires careful handling.
Practical Tips
- Use N.C.I. powder regularly to prevent lice infestations on the body and in clothing.
- Apply Vermijelli weekly to seams of clothing to kill young lice as they hatch.
- Iron clothes with hot irons, especially along seams, to effectively remove lice.
Warnings & Risks
- Gasoline or benzine baths can be dangerous due to fire hazards; use dry cleaning apparatus for safety.
- Sulphur fumigation requires careful sealing of all openings and thorough ventilation afterward.
Modern Application
While the specific chemicals used in this chapter may not be readily available today, the principles of regular delousing and maintaining personal hygiene remain crucial. Modern equivalents like permethrin-treated clothing and insecticides can offer similar protection against lice infestations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is N.C.I. powder used for?
N.C.I. powder, consisting of naphthalene, creosote, and iodoform, is used to kill lice and their eggs on the body and in clothing.
Q: How often should delousing preparations be applied according to this chapter?
Delousing preparations such as N.C.I. powder should be used about every four days for best results.
Q: What is Vermijelli and how does it work?
Vermijelli is a mixture of soft soap, mineral oil, and water applied weekly to the seams of clothing to destroy young lice as they hatch.