Green’s Dictionary of Slang

active citizens n.

lice, fleas.

1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc.
1846		Swell’s Night Guide 107/2: Active citizen, a louse.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum.
1881		Trumble Sl. Dict. (1890).
1960		(con. 1950-1960) R.A. Freeman Dict. Inmate Sl. (Walla Walla, WA) 2: Active-citizen – vermin.