THE SEARCH FOR NEW INSECTICIDES

Abstract

THE amusing definition of a specialist as “one who learns more and more about less and less” does not hold for the specialist in applied science. On the contrary, so far as I have observed in applied biology, it is a curious paradox that concentration on a single problem often requires the widest superficial knowledge of many subjects. For example, for the past three years I have been studying the effect of new insecticides on the louse. That would appear to be a fairly specialized problem requiring merely a familiarity with the biology of the louse and the physical and chemical properties of the organic chemicals proposed as insecticides. Actually the research led to a consideration of such diverse subjects as the psychology of the louse (and to some extent of the infested men who came to us for treatment), the risks of dermatitis from various chemicals and the possible carcinogenicity of oil diluents. The powers of absorption and retention of cotton, wool and cellulose acetate underwear were considered, and practical problems of laundering and dry-cleaning (especially the preparation of emulsions and the use of large centrifuges) came into the picture. Finally, one had to learn a little of such diverse subjects as army hygiene and women's hair-dressing styles.