Leprosy 
253 
From these experiments he concluded, first, that all of the above- 
named flies, when given an opportunity to feed upon leprous fluids, 
will contain the bacilli in their intestinal tracts and feces for several 
days after such feeding. Second, that considering the habits of 
these flies, and especially those of Musca domestica, it is certain that, 
given an exposed leprous ulcer, these insects will frequently convey 
immense numbers of lepra bacilli, directly or indirectly, to the skins, 
nasal mucosa, and digestive tracts of healthy persons. Additional 
evidence along this line has recently been brought forward by 
Honeij and Parker (1914), who incriminate both Musca domestica 
and Stomoxys calcitrans. Whether or not such insect-borne bacilli 
are capable of infecting persons whose skin and mucosa are thus 
contaminated, Currie was unwilling to maintain, but he concludes 
that until we have more accurate knowledge on this point, we are 
justified in regarding these insects with grave suspicion of being 
one of the means of disseminating leprous infection. 
Various students of the subject have suggested that bed-bugs 
may be the carriers of leprosy and have determined the presence of 
acid-fast bacilli in the intestines of bed-bugs which had fed on leprous 
patients. Opposed to this, the careful experiments of Thompson 
(1913) and of Skelton and Parkham (1913) have been wholly nega¬ 
tive. 
Borrel has recently suggested that Demodex, may play a role in 
spreading the infection in families. Many other insects and acariens 
have been suggested as possible vectors, but the experimental data 
are few and in no wise conclusive. The most that can be said is that 
it is quite possible that under favorable conditions the infection 
might be spread by any of the several blood-sucking forms or by 
house-flies. 
Verruga peruviana 
Verruga peruviana is defined by Castellani and Chalmers as “a 
chronic, endemic, specific, general disorder of unknown origin, not 
contagious, but apparently inoculable, and characterized by an ir¬ 
regular fever associated with rheumatoid pains, anemia, followed 
by granulomatous swellings in the skin, mucous membranes, and 
organs of the body.” It has been generally believed by medical 
men interested that the comparatively benign eruptive verruga is 
identical with the so-called Oroya, or Carrion’s fever, a malignant 
type. This view is not supported by the work of Strong, Tyzzer 
and Brues, (1913). 
