1st General Medical Laboratory
APO 519
c/o Postmaster New York City
Sept. 28, 1942

Dear Dr. Dove:

I was very glad to get your letter of Sept. 10 and the notes from the members of the office staff. How much I enjoyed hearing from them and it really made it seem as though I were back there talking to them in person. Of course, everyone wants to get back to the States as soon as possible but I think they want to get this job done first. I judged from Harry’s note that you folks didn’t know I was in England. Haven’t been able to see any of my old friends yet that I knew when I was here before although I see Buxton quite often whenever I go up to his city. Deniza tells me that some of the other men in the Division are getting itching feet to get in the service but you tell them for me that the work they are doing is too important and that they can perform a greater service for their country by staying in their present jobs for awhile longer anyway. There is still much research needed to meet military requirements in their line of work and I know they are the boys who can do it and that in America is the best place to get it done.

September 28, 1942

Shortly after your letter came, I received the box containing the small jars and two larger jars. Presumably, these samples are for tests with scabies and I shall get to test them at the same time I test the louse powder for scabies. However, it is indiciated that a liquid acaricide would be better than a salve, since in most instances the entire body has to be treated. On the other hand, if the louse powder works it will be the best treatment.

The British are using their AL63 but I am sure MYL will prove to be much better.

I have been preaching M.B. fumigation of clothing for delousing but the biggest question is whether it will kill typhus rickettsiae and there is only one answer to that and that is to try it on infected lice and their feces. It may be that I can arrange for some tests in the Middle East. The QM over here seems not to have heard of M.B. fumigation for delousing and I am wondering if the Q.M. General’s office over there has been fully advised on the subject. How is Latta getting along with further experiments?

We have requisitioned a rather large supply of MYL as well as M.B. and the necessary equipment as I should like to have the latest “dope” on the latter.

Was glad to learn that the Committee had accepted 612. It seems to be badly needed everywhere from the reports I hear.

Could you give some information yet on how well the ovicide in MYL works and how long the powder gives protection.

I am glad that Roy and Knipling got their well-deserved promotions, and I hope Miss Lynch gets hers soon too. Perhaps the additional money for the larvicide work will justify making another application. How is Bruce and has he gotten in the Army yet? Did Major King go overseas?

Sincerely yours,
Emory.

P.S. My cable address is AMIHOP if you should care to reach me in a hurry sometime.

ECC.

1st General Medical Laboratory
APO 519
c/o Postamster
New York, New York
Sept. 22, 1942

Dear Dr. Dove:

I do not recall whether I mentioned in my last letter the desirability of having some work done on methods of delousing the body of a person which is more rapid than the usual slow and uncertain process of shaving and bathing. My particular concern is lousy patients suffering from some disease or injury requiring immediate medication or surgery and which could not be handled in the customary way. Then too, one cannot be certain that bathing and shaving will get all the lice and nits on the body. If we had a solution which was both lousicidal and ovicidal which could be sprayed over the body it would eliminate a lot of work and time in delousing a helpless patient by bathing. Lethane in a water mixture might be suitable for this purpose and I am thinking too of a water emulsion of benzyl benzoate. This last seems to be a good treatment for scabies and is highly recommended by the British. It is applied all over the body except the head without harmful effects. The proportion of the mixture is 25% benzyl benzoate, 5% wetting agent, and 70% water. Would you please ask the boys in Fla. to run some preliminary tests with this material on research subjects using live lice and nits on the skin. If this cannot be done immediately perhaps they could try light sprayings of lice and eggs on pieces of cloth.

September 22, 1942

Nothing has come through from Stone’s office yet regarding new developments by the boys in the Southeast but the British seem to be getting some of that information from OSRD. Deniza tells me that you are sending the things I requested and I surely appreciate your help in this matter. Did you get the money for the mosquito larvicide investigations? Who is working on it? I understand that the shipbuilding project at N.O. was abandoned – is that correct? Would like to know if Stone’s office is still enthusiastic about M.B. fumigation and if it is now standard recommendation. No instructions have been received by people concerned here according to my knowledge.

Give my best regards to everyone there and in the field. Everything OK with me.

Sincerely,
Emory C. Cushing