South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-08-05
The Old Enemy in the Trenches
BY GARRETT =. sERVIss.

II would Zoe pity If we should
get into the habit of boasting about
the achievements of our soldiers in
France. or elsewhere. hut on the
other hand. We ought 10 spare no
just praise. or recognition OF their
merits None Of them are more de
serving on renown than the SO who
volunteered 10 summit themselves
10 innoculation with the virus of
the dreaded trench fever. some by
injection of blood from patien,
suhering from the disease and 9TH
er bv bites from the lice suspected
of being the carriers. Of its germ.
The brilliant success Of Ne at
tempt 90 determine Inc nature and
method Of spread of diseas Sc
which had become veritable
scouree In the trenches. increase
our qualification over the fact that
it was the self-sacrifce of men
from America that insured this tri-
umph OF science. working military
auspices. not FOR the destruction.
hut for the preservation of life
IT was a minute enemy that had
20 be detected and thrwarted. but
one that possesses the potency OF
countless numbers. and the re-
source of fabulous rapidity of mul-
DUPLICATION. a new foe has been
recognized through the courage
and forttude of our men. and now
stands beside the malarial-m0s
quito and the plague bearing flea.
labelled malignant and deadly"
The disaereeabIe and disgusting
associations connected with the
name of this newly unInasked foe
should not prevent US from making
ourselves acquainted with him and
his habits. for il goes without say
ing that YOU cannot fSht an enemy
that YOU do not know The fact
that the little creature called the
body louise is. Don this case. ac-
cused or distributing disease hith-
erto confined to the lighting trench
es iu Europe does not narrow down
the interest in him 90 those alone
who are liable 90 feel his attacks on
the ground where ne has revealed
himself as most dangerous. for il
is likely that. now we allow his ca
pacitv FOR evil. other serious indfct-
mentS will he found against him
Let as therefore. with scientific
Indifference 10 the aesthetic feel
ings which have outlawed the louise
and made even its name IA boo. con-
slider what the naturahsts have to
Tell The soldiers name for this
new enemy sprung up ont OF the
world OF the minute and the in
uumera bile. is "dooIe."
To begin. the louise is dis-
credited creature. even i'm his own
particular world and environment
Tie is distinctly q degenerate The
scientific name Of his family i
Pediculidae. a kind OF siur on their
small feet The louise family. the
Encyclopedia Americana saws, is
of doubtful 7fniues. hut usually
considered 20 be Hemiptra much
deCra ded through long continued
nara sitism They have been put
off by themselves. together with a
few other similarly organized in
sects. rs the order Anoplura
It is hardly necessary TO say that
they have no wings. They cannot
even jump like the flea They arc
great stay-at- homes. and love their
unwilling hosts like brothers. With
the exception ~ the hird-lice. which
belong To a distinct sub-order. they
confne their attentions entirely %
animals Of the manual kind. Twins
exclusively on blood which they
draw through a delicate tube al
tached 10 proboscis which is
armed with hooks Dy which il car
he fixed Co the victim.
a Suction aulh" .u The head pro-
pels the blood into the stomach
Many generations in direct descent
may !uhahit the Same hosl. and in-
di,Iduals of An ages and sizes with
ln The limits of .heir growth may
he found together. some just emery
ing from The eggs others LAWNS
new eggs and Uany simply busted
I'M CorElng and CROWNS casting on