154 GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. [Jan. 



t<> investigate the poisoning properties of the hairs. The gen- 

 i-i-;il spreading of the brown-tail moth throughout eastern Mas- 

 sachusetts, and tlie consequent development of the well-known 

 snnnner disease of caterpillar dermatitis, as it is known to the 

 medical profession, led the writer repeatedly to urge medi- 

 cal students, physicians and others to take up the subject and 

 make an exhaustive study of it. The importance of such 

 an investigation appealed strongly to Dr. E. E. Tyzzer of 

 the Harvard Medical School, who independently took up such 

 an investigation the past summer. The results of his studies 

 are embodied in the paper presented herewith, which he has 

 kindly allowed me to publish in the present report, and which 

 will commend itself to all as a most excellent and thorough 

 piece of scientific work. Briefly stated, Dr. Tyzzer shows that 

 the poisoning by the caterpillars, contrary to Mr. Smith's con- 

 clusions, is caused by a specific poisonous principle, which 

 works certain important and easily recognized changes in the 

 blood, and which in turn accounts for the spreading of the 

 caterpillar rash to various parts of the human body from a 

 single point of infection. 



It may be stated, in connection with the subject of brown-tail 

 moth poisoning, that, while there are on the market a host of 

 proprietary remedies, many of which possess merit, the pre- 

 -<M-iption which has given the greatest relief in actual practice 

 is: carbolic acid, l/o drachm; zinc oxide, ] /o ounce; lime water, 

 8 ounces; shake thoroughly, and rub well into the affected parts. 

 At our parasite laboratory, where during the past year at least 

 one million brown-tail moth caterpillars in all stages of develop- 

 ment have been handled by the assistants, many of whom suf- 

 fered so severely as to become seriously ill, this remedy proved 

 the most effective in treating the caterpillar dermatitis. 



Tin: PATHOLOGY OF TIIK "HiM >\v. \-T.\II. MOTH I )i KMATITIS. 



Hy K. K. TV//.KK, A.M., M.D., Assistant in Pathology, Harvard University, and 

 lim-rtur of Research, Caroline Brewer Croft Cancer Commission. 



The disagreeable dermatitis caused by the brown-tail moth has at- 

 tracted much attention in the vicinity of r,..ston in recent years. At 

 first of interest chiefly to dermatologists as a skin affection new to this 

 region, this dermatitis has since become so common in moth-int'csted 

 districts that it is now reco-rni/ed by laymen as well as by physicians. 



