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US Army plunger-type insecticide duster for delousing concentration camp survivors and soldiers

Object | Accession Number: 2004.53.2
2004.53.2 front US Army plunger-type insecticide duster for delousing concentration camp survivors and soldiers Click to enlarge

United States Army issued hand pump insecticide duster of the type used by US troops to delouse concentration camp survivors after liberation in 1945. The standard issued material used by the US Army for louse control was 10% DDT powder. Louse powder was placed in the canister and released through the spray nozzle when the hand pump was depressed. The powder was blown between the underwear and the skin, down the neck of the shirt, up the sleeves and into the trousers in as many directions as possible.

Date
use:  approximately 1945 May
Geography
use: Europe
Language
English
Classification
Tools and Equipment
Category
Farming equipment
Object Type
Dust guns (lcsh)
Credit Line
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the United States Department of Agriculture ARS Medical and Veterinary Entomology Research Lab

About This Object

Physical Description
Green painted, silver colored, metal canister with a vertical seam, 2 central horizontal indents, and a circular screw top lid and latching bottom lid. A metal pump rod with a cylindrical wooden handle is inserted through an opening on the screw lid center. A moveable metal bail handle is attached by 2 plates to the canister on the latch lid end. A cylindrical spray nozzle, missing the tip, is soldered to the canister and extends over the latch lid. The canister has paint loss, scratches, corrosion and adhesive label residue. The screw top lid was not opened for review.
Dimensions
overall: Height: 20.875 inches (53.023 cm) | Width: 3.750 inches (9.525 cm) | Depth: 3.500 inches (8.89 cm)
Materials
overall : metal, paint, wood
Markings
canister, near latching lid, embossed : US
Contributor
Distributor: United States. Army

Keywords and Subjects

Administrative History

Legal Status
Permanent Collection
Provenance
The insecticide duster was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2004 by Kenneth H. Posey, ex officio, for the United States Department of Agriculture ARS Medical and Veterinary Entomology Research Lab.
Funding Note
The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Rights and Restrictions

Conditions on Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions on Use
No restrictions on use

 
Record last modified: 2022-08-16 11:09:21
This page: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn514809

Also in United States Department of Agriculture ARS Medical and Veterinary Entomology Research Lab collection

The collection consists of two United States Army issued insecticide dusters of the type used in the concentration camps immediately following liberation during and after World War II.

Date: 1944-1945

US Army Model 142 insecticide duster for delousing concentration camp survivors and soldiers

US Army Model 142 insecticide duster for delousing concentration camp survivors and soldiers

Object

United States Army issued handheld insecticide dusting gun, Model 142, of the type used by US troops to delouse concentration camp survivors after liberation in 1945. The standard issued material used by the US Army for louse control was 10% DDT powder. Louse powder was placed in the canister and released through a pressurized hose. Air passes through the canister and the air tube tip when the control is pushed down. The powder was blown between the underwear and the skin, down the neck of the shirt, up the sleeves and into the trousers in as many directions as possible.

View All 2 Items in the Collection