68 
Parasitic Arthropods 
There are many other records of various species of ticks attacking 
man, but the above-mentioned will serve as typical and it is not neces¬ 
sary to enter into greater detail. 
Treatment of Tick Bites —When a tick attaches to man the first 
thing to be done is to remove it without leaving the hypostome in the 
wound to fester and bring about secondary effects. This is best 
accomplished by applying to the tick’s body some substance which 
will cause it to more readily loosen its hold. Gasoline or petroleum, 
oil or vaseline will serve. 
For removing the 
spinose ear-tick, Stiles 
recommends pouring 
some bland oil into the 
ear. Others have used 
effectively a pledget of 
cotton soaked in chloro¬ 
form. 
In general, the treat¬ 
ment recommended by 
Wellman for the bites 
of Ornithodoros moubata 
vail prove helpful. It 
consists of prolonged 
bathing in very hot 
water, followed by the 
51 . Dermanyssus gallinae. female. After Delafond. application of a Strong 
solution of bicarbonate 
of soda, which is allowed to dry upon the skin. He states that this 
treatment is comforting. For severe itching he advises smearing 
the bites with vaseline, which is slightly impregnated with camphor 
or menthol. Medical aid should be sought when complications arise. 
The Dermanyssidae are Gamasid mites which differ from others of 
the group in that they are parasitic on vertebrates. None of the 
species normally attack man, but certain of them, especially the 
poultry mite, may be accidental annoyances. 
Dermanyssus gallince (fig. 51), the red mite of poultry, is an exceed¬ 
ingly common and widespread parasite of fowls. During the day 
it lives in cracks and crevices of poultry houses, under supports of 
roosts, and in litter of the food and nests, coming out at night to feed. 
