Treatment for Destruction of Vermin.
Arrangements should be made for the bathing of affected individuals and other inmates of infected tents.
After drying themselves, men to lather their bodies with cresol-soap solution (water 10 galls., Jeyes’ fluid 1½ oz., soft soap 1½ lb.), especially over hairy parts, and to allow the lather to dry on.
Shirts to be washed in cresol-soap solution made with boiling water.
Tunics and trousers to be turned inside out, and rubbed with same lather, especially along the seams. Lather to be allowed to dry on the garment.
The materials can be obtained from the A.S.C. on indent authorised by A.D.M.S. in the form attached.
Infected blankets were at first treated by soaking them in cresol-soap solution, after which they were sent to a neighbouring laundry to be washed—a small contract rate having previously arranged. In the first week in November, however, a portable Thresh’s steam disinfecting apparatus was supplied to the Division, through the Second Army, since when no difficulty has been experienced in the disinfection both of clothing and blankets.
As a matter of fact the simple and inexpensive method which has been employed by us over a period of several months has proved so successful that no necessity has arisen for a trial of any other means of treatment.
Professor Lefroy, of the Royal College of Science and Technology, recommends two effective remedies, known respectively as ‘Vermijelli’ and ‘Vermin Westropol.’[2] Lieut.-Colonel E. J. Cross has successfully treated the clothes and bedding of his men with a powder consisting of three parts of black hellebore root and one of borax, and many similar powders are produced by the manufacturers of insecticides.
Let us end up this chapter cheerfully!