426 Phylum Arthropoda 



Clinical maggots reared from eggs disinfected with sodium hydroxide 

 are probably free from filterable viruses, from the pathogenic spore- 

 producing organisms, and from most of the non-spore-producing ones. 

 While freedom from the tubercle bacillus cannot be assured altogether, 

 it seems most unlikely that this bacterium would be present with the 

 maggots reared by this method. 



COST OF MAGGOTS 



The apparatus needed for rearing clinical maggots in addition to that 

 already in a hospital laboratory is inexpensive. The trained staff of the 

 laboratory can supervise the work. The small cost of producing suitable 

 maggots for surgical use is, therefore, no longer a valid objection to the 

 maggot treatment. 



DISCUSSION 



Lucilia sericata is a favorable blowfly species for laboratory use. 

 It may be reared much of the year at the temperature and humidity of 

 the room. The fly cabinet and cool cabinet for controlling these factors 

 are useful in speeding up production. 



Eggs are susceptible to injury from drying. Feeding larvae on the 

 other hand are not dependent on high atmospheric humidity. They may 

 be grown well at temperatures of the room up to 32 ° C. or somewhat 

 more. They leave the food when adequate ventilation is not maintained. 

 The amount of air exchange required in the rearing containers varies 

 with the number of maggots present and the rapidity of their growth. 

 In growing larvae on autoclaved food it is sometimes necessary to remove 

 or partially remove the lid of the larval rearing pan to permit additional 

 ventilation. With experience numerous variations in technique for rear- 

 ing and care of maggots and adult flies will be apparent. 



Bibliography 



Baer, W. S. 1931. The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with the maggot (larvae 



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 Buchman, J., and Blair, J. E. 1932. Maggots and their use in the treatment of 



chronic osteomyelitis. Surg. Gyn. Obst. 55:177. 

 Child, F. S. and Roberts, E. F. 1931. The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis 



with live maggots. N. Y. State J. Med. 31:937. 

 McKeever, D. C. 1933. Maggots in treatment of osteomyelitis. J. Bone and 



Joint Surg. 15:85. 

 Miller, D. F., Doan, C. A., and Wilson, E. H. 1932. The treatment of osteomyelitis 



with fly larvae. Ohio J. Sci. 32:1. 

 Murdoch, F. F., and Smart, T. L. 1931. A method of producing sterile blowfly 



larvae for surgical use. U. S. Naval Med. Bull. 29:406. 

 Robinson, W. 1934. Literature relating to the use of maggots in the treatment of 



suppurative infections. Circ. E-310 (multigraphed) Bur. of Ent., V. S. D. A. 



