proceedings: biological society 449 



bites. They did not contract the disease, while Mr. Nicholson showed 

 a well marked case, with both the bacilliform bodies in the erythrocytes 

 and the characteristic eruption. 



Lizards were suggested as a possible reservoir of verruga, from the 

 fact that were the only vertebrates aside from man, domestic or wild, 

 at Verrugas Canyon, whose blood showed bacilliform bodies. The 

 lizards inhabit the numerous loose rock walls which everywhere in the 

 Andean region take the place of fences, and these are the favorite diurnal 

 hiding places of the Phlehotomus swarms. Injection of the lizard 

 blood into guinea-pigs resulted in similar bodies in the erythrocytes 

 of the injected animal. 



The unity of verruga was insisted on, in opposition to the thesis of 

 Dr. R. P. Strong and his associates. The entire Peruvian medical fra- 

 ternity concur in this view. The facts given in support of it appear 

 to be irreconcilable with the opposite view. 



Prophylactic measures were outlined; and the remarkably perfect 

 climatic conditions of the verruga zones, unequalled for sanatoria, 

 were dwelt on. (Authors ahstnict.) 



Dr. Towtstsend's paper, which will be published in full in the Ameri- 

 can Journal of Tropical Diseases and Preventive Medicine, was illustrated 

 by lantern slides made from photographs of BartoniahaciUiformis, 

 of clinical cases, of the micro-pathology, of the Phlehotomus, and of 

 Verrugas Canyon, etc. It was discussed by Admiral C. W. Baird 

 and Medical Inspector H. E. Ames. 



The second paper was by W. Dwight Pierce, The uses of weevils ami 

 weevil products in food and medicine. Mr. Pierce described in particular 

 the trehala manna of Syria which is the cocoon of the large weevil 

 known as Larinus nidificans. These cocoons are used by the natives 

 as a food similar to tapioca and are commonly sold in the drug stores 

 for use in making a decoction said to be efficacious against bronchial 

 catarrh. The cocoons are made by an abdominal excretion of the 

 larvae and contain a large percentage of sugar known as trehalose, as 

 well as a carbohydrate, a little gum, and a small amount of inorganic 

 mineral matter. (Author's abstract.) 



Specimens of the trehala manna and of the weevil were exhibited. 



The third communication was by L. 0. Howard, Some observations 

 on mosquitoes and house flies. Dr. Howard spoke of the work which 

 is being done in New Jersey against mosquitoes, describing the organi- 

 zation of county inspectors which was effected at Atlantic City in 

 February at an " antimosquito convention." He showed a series of 

 lantern shdes illustrating the very effective work done by the Essex 

 County Commission in the vicinity of Newark, New Jersey. He then 

 spoke of the work done by Mr. Hutchinson; of the Bureau of Ento- 

 mology, in regard to trapping the maggots of the house-fly, illustrating 

 his remarks with lantern slides showing a large out-door maggot trap 

 in use during the summer of 1914 under Mr. Hutchinson's directions 

 at College Park, Maryland. The illustrations in question appear in 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 200. (Author's abstract.) 



