Mites and Ticks 
23 
described painful swelling, gangrene, loss of speech, cramps, deliri¬ 
um, unconsciousness and even death. Opposed to the numerous loose 
accounts of poisoning, there are a number of careful records by 
physicians and zoologists which indicate clearly that the effects are 
local and though they may be severe, they show not the slightest 
symptom of direct poisoning. 
More important in the consideration of the question is the fact 
that there are neither poison glands nor pores in the fangs for the 
exit of any poisonous secretion. This is the testimony of a number 
of prominent zoologists, among whom is Dr. A. Walter, who wrote 
to Robert at length on the subject and whose conclusions are pre¬ 
sented by him. 
However, it should be noted that the fangs are very powerful 
and are used in such a manner that they may inflict especially severe 
wounds. Thus, there may be more opportunity for secondary 
infection than is usual in the case of insect wounds. 
The treatment of the bite of the Solpugida is, therefore, a matter 
of preventing infection. The wound should be allowed to bleed 
freely and then washed out with a 113000 solution of corrosive 
sublimate, and, if severe, a wet dressing of this should be applied. 
If infection takes place, it should be treated in the usual man¬ 
ner, regardless of its origin. 
THE ACARINA, OR MITES AND TICKS 
A number of the parasitic Acarina evidently secrete a 
specific poison, presumably carried by the saliva, but in most cases 
its effect on man is insignificant. There is an abundant literature 
dealing with the poisonous effect of the bite of these forms, especially 
the ticks, but until recently it has been confused by failure to recog¬ 
nize that various species may transmit diseases of man, rather than 
produce injur}' through direct poisoning. We shall therefore 
discuss the Acarina more especially in subsequent chapters, dealing 
with parasitism and with disease transmission. 
Nevertheless, after the evidence is sifted, there can be no doubt 
that the bites of certain ticks may occasionally be followed by a 
direct poisoning, which may be either local or general in its effects. 
Nuttall (1908) was unable to determine the cause of the toxic effect, 
for, in Argas persicus, the species most often implicated, he failed to 
get the slightest local or general effect on experimental animals, from 
the injection of an emulsion prepared by crushing three of the ticks. 
