But, horror! What if those homes and schools were ravaged by diseases that might be somehow transferred, in the socks, to the boys at the front? Bossy "Clio" of Melbourne's Punch was quickly on the case.

"Dr Robertson the Chief Health Officer has given us the latest 'recipe' for 'socks for soldiers'. I do so wish it would be generally adopted, like health standard directions for making bread and such. It is so simple, so economical, and should appeal to every housewife.

"The recipe is as follows: (1) Wash the socks in warm soapy water, and dry them in the sun. (2) Immerse them for a little while in 3 per cent, solution of formalin. (3) Bake them in the oven.

"As a matter of fact, such 'cooking' and treatment of home-made garments is very urgent and necessary. It was discovered only last week that, from a veritable hotbed of scarlet fever, quite a number of socks had been knitted and sent to Red Cross headquarters [for distribution to the front].

"When one recollects that socks are being sent from practically every State school, and from homes in every quarter of the State, in many of which there is the likelihood of some contagious disease prevailing, a very grave danger indeed has to be faced. I certainly think that some precautionary disinfecting should be insisted upon."