Metal lice comb, 'Derbac' brand, England, 1930-1940

Made:
1930-40 in England
Metal lice comb for the removal of lice and their eggs from

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Metal lice comb for the removal of lice and their eggs from
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Metal lice comb for the removal of lice and their eggs from human hair, 'Derbac' brand, in paper envelope with instructions, made in England, 1930-1940

Head lice are passed by direct contact from person to person or by sharing brushes, combs and hats. It is a very common condition among schoolchildren who are likely to have at least one episode in their lifetime. Lice and their eggs can be removed from human hair using combs like this one.

Head lice are often referred to as ‘nits’ and this device is probably better known as a ‘nit comb’. Nit combs could be used at home by parents, but at school they were likely to be used during an unwanted visit to the so-called ‘nit nurse’.

Details

Category:
Public Health & Hygiene
Object Number:
2005-721
Materials:
metal plated (unknown), textile thread, blue, copper alloy and paper (fibre product)
Measurements:
envelope: 57 mm x 54 mm x 6 mm,
comb: 50 mm x 51 mm x 4 mm, .04 kg
type:
lice comb
credit:
Monica Britten Exhibition Hall of Medical History

Parts

Metal lice comb, 'Derbac' brand, England, 1930-1940

Metal lice comb, 'Derbac' brand, England, 1930-1940

Metal lice comb for the removal of lice and their eggs from human hair, 'Derbac' brand, made in England, 1930-1940

Measurements:
overall: 50 mm x 51 mm x 4 mm, .4 kg
Materials:
metal (unknown) and copper (alloy)
Object Number:
2005-721/1
type:
lice comb
Paper envelope for metal lice comb, 'Derbac' brand, England, 1930-1940

Paper envelope for metal lice comb, 'Derbac' brand, England, 1930-1940

Paper envelope with instructions for metal lice comb for the removal of lice and their eggs from human hair, 'Derbac' brand, in paper envelope with instructions, made in England, 1930-1940

Measurements:
overall: 57 mm x 54 mm x 6 mm,
Materials:
paper (fibre product) and textile
Object Number:
2005-721/2
type:
envelope