A Lost Chapter in the Early History of DDT: The Development of Anti-Typhus Technologies by the Rockefeller Foundation's Louse Laboratory, 1942-1944

Abstract

On 5 December 1943, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, commander of the Allied forces in North Africa and Italy, sent an urgent secret radiogram to Washington regarding the War Department's refusal to ship to North Africa a large quantity of a secret new chemical for the control of louse-borne typhus. Arguing that typhus fever is [an] actual threat to military personnel in Italy at this time, he stated that seventeen tons of [DDT] concentrate are total requirements for this theater for Civil and Military [authorities]. Then he demanded reconsideration of [Washington's] decision to deny shipment of equivalent 10 tons concentrate and that [instead the] shipment be made on highest priority, and emphasized the seriousness of the situation by reminding his superiors that the season of [typhus] prevalence commences early in January. Impressed by its commanding general's argument, the department immediately reversed its position, and speeded shipments of the precious DDT for use in the Mediterranean. DDT's astounding effectiveness led Eisenhower to send another secret message a month later, insisting that it is considered of utmost importance that additional five tons DDT 100% be made available for A [Hied] Military] G[overment] use. This must reach this theater in late February without fail. l Unknown as an insecticide