Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
An outbreak of body lice might require several control measures according to circumstances. Two types of fumigant action have been investigated in the laboratory and the field :—
(1) House fumigation for disinfesting typhus-contaminated premises.
Lice were fairly similar to bed-bugs in their resistance to the fumigants tested. In practice, 16 oz./l,000 cubic feet of hydrogen cyanide will kill lice and eggs : 2 lb. of sulphur/1,000 cubic feet is also successful if the wind is not strong.
(2) Bin fumigation of garments by saturated vapours.
The saturated vapours of solids such as naphthalene and paradichlorbenzene are extremely slow in action ; even with 20 hours exposure at 20°C. they are unreliable. Liquids such as heavy naphtha or trichlorethylene are much more promising.
For reading and criticising this paper I am grateful to Professor Buxton in whose department the work was done. My thanks are also due to the Medical Research Council for a grant.