REVIEWS 357 



extent, Ceratophyllus fasciatus — infests and bites man, and, should it have fed 

 on a plague-infected rat, bubonic plague may be communicated to the victim. 

 In certain parts of Africa and Asia, rats and rat-fleas, therefore, cannot be 

 ignored. 



Bugs in houses breed all the year, so long as the temperature is favourable 

 and food abundant. In India, the bed-bug is strongly suspected of transmitting 

 kala-azar, and it has also been incriminated in the dissemination of relapsing 

 fever elsewhere. The methods given for the destruction of bugs should enable 

 one to cope with the nuisance. 



House-flies are mechanical agents in the transport of disease germs. Pro- 

 minent among the diseases conveyed by them is typhoid fever. In Egypt, 

 ophthalmia is very prevalent, and the eyes are often infested with flies. The 

 contamination of food or drink with various disease germs, by the wanderings of 

 flies from their favourite breeding grounds in filth, is a menace to the health of 

 soldier and civilian alike. Similarly, the blowfly, the greenbottle fly, and the flesh- 

 fly all are dangerous to man by polluting his food or even by depositing their 

 eggs in wounds, where vigorous larvns or maggots develop. An anti-fly crusade 

 is indeed a necessary measure. 



Harvest mites and itch insects are also nuisances, and can produce intolerable 

 discomfort. The simple preventive measures set forth will doubtless be welcome 

 to many in camp this year. Ticks will probably be familiar to troops in Africa 

 and on the Persian Gulf. A knowledge of their habits and life-histories can be 

 pleasurably obtained from this book. Omithodorus moubata conveys Spirochceta 

 duttoni, the causal agent of African tick fever in man, while other ticks transmit 

 diseases causing great -loss among cattle. 



An interesting account of various leeches occurring in different parts of the 

 world is given. The information about their habits should be of service to men 

 in India and Ceylon, where voracious land leeches lie in wait for the unwary. 

 Leeches in Syria, Palestine, and Egypt also frequent the stagnant water of wells, 

 and, if swallowed with unstrained or unfiltered water, can cause severe suffering 

 either to man or beast. 



Finally, the facts set forth regarding these minor horrors of war, as given by 



Dr. Shipley, are well worth studying both at home and at the front. The book 



is well written, interesting, amusing, and instructive, and its popularity is well 



deserved. 



H. B. F. 



BOOKS RECEIVED 



{Publishers are requested to notify prices) 



Engineering. By Gordon D. Knox. "Romance of Reality Series." London: 

 T. C. & E. C. Jack, 67, Long Acre, W.C., and Edinburgh. With 17 Plates 

 191 5. (Pp. xi + 276.) 



Abstract of Proceedings of the Deputation from the Royal Society and the 

 Chemical Society to the Government on the Position of Chemical Industries. 

 May 6, 191 5. From the Transactions of the Chemical Society, 191 5. 

 Vol. 107. (Pp. 13.) 



Health in the Camp. A Talk to Soldiers. By H. R. Kenwood, Temporary 

 Lieutenant-Colonel R.A.M.C., Professor ot Hygiene and Public Health in the 

 University of London, etc. London : H. K. Lewis & Co., 136, Gower Street, 

 W.C. (Pp. vi + 58.) Price 3d. net. 100 copies, 2\s. net; 50, lis. net; 

 25, 5-r. net. 



