The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-08-16
OUR UNBIDDEN GUESTS

Dilettantes who keep the public informed
about what Science says" and not real scien-
predicting that in time insects or other vermin
will overcome the human race and annihilate
frightful prophecy I alarmed. But on re-
Fiction I found reinsurance in the observation
that it was dilettante and not real scientist
who advanced the idea and that the chap was
no doubt subsidized by the national association
of insect powder manufacturers.
Insects and rodents and do get along well
mans supremacy only when they find their
share of the worlds food supply withheld by
human ingenuity. Fortunate for mankind that
insects and rodents only compete with us for
living. What desperate plight ours would
be If our parasites were endowed with half the
wisdom of the ant or the sagacity OF the rat.
A parasite is plant animal living in or
another plant animal called the host.
There are many species of such unbidden
guests that obtain food, shelter or other advan-
tage at the expense of the human host
Contrary to popular belief. most OF the para
sites which abide in the alimentary canal are
quite harmless at worst cause only trivial
disturbance of health. Only few human para
sites, and these are comparatively rare. seri-
ously damage the health of the host
Right here perhaps we should consider the
monsters" Snakes" 'alligators' and so on
that according to popular myth sometimes
chance an egg" be accidentally swallowed in
drink of water. This ridiculous myth Is reg
ularly resuscitated by the printing of freak
yarns in obscure papers The whole concepI Is
as fantastic as the comedy of King Kong. The
same child mind takes both bugaboos serious
ly
fable head louse This gregarious or gorgeous
insect is found on the heads of % per cent or
New York city school children and 1t Is notori-
cusly prevalent in the United States too. Pedl-
culus capitis the head louise is called prefers
heads that have long hair for it Is more diff
cult or troublesome to keep long hair combed.
brushed and washed. The presence OF lice on
| the head-they are most likely to appear IN
the hair over the temples and on the back OF
head-iS unCleanuneSS,
cIeanest scalp and hair may become infested II
it happens to come into intimate contact with
an infested head-as does happen inevitably
at school.
Head lice are spread not alone by such direct
contact but also by or on brushes combs, hats.
| caps, upholstered chair backs or head rests.
hair affords the bugs little chance to establish
| a colony. Forty years ago girls had their hair
cropped or clipped only in the effort to get rid
| of head lice.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
| Put Up in Tubes
| WhitReId's ointment, which you recommend
Il for ringwOrm athletes foot. Is put In tubes
II by - Co., and h conveniently available Il
Il all druggists. IL. HI
II Answer-Any druggist who can not prepare
such a simple ointment salve for his owr
customers, and put 1t up in box. jar or tube
doesn't deserve the name. The formula Is
II Salicylic acid ............ .15 grains
| BenZolc ACID $50 grains
Soft Petroleum ...........2 drains
| Cocoanut oil. to make One Ounce
Directions: Apply at night to affected patch
es of skin, for a week. then rest week, ant
resume If necessary
First Aid
Interested i'm learning how to administer frs
aid In minor injuries and ailments. (E. K.)
Answer-Send a stamped envelope bearing
Eauipping ana Using Pocket Emergency Out
fit. Inclose dime IL you wish a copy OF tn
| booklet on Resuscitation.