756 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



the sand and complete their development. When Qy-blown fecal material was 

 buried under 48 in. of clean (unsterilized) sand, flies {Musca domestica) 

 issued from the surface. When fly-blown fecal material was buried under 72 

 in. of clean (unsterilized) sand, flies (genus and species undetermined) issued 

 from the surface." 



Studies upon leprosy. — X, Flies in relation to the transmission of lep- 

 rosy, D. H. CuRKiE {Puh. Health and Mar. IIosp. Serv. U. S., PiiTi. Health Bui. 

 39, pp. 21-^2). — Following an introduction in which the literature is briefly 

 reviewed, transmission experiments with several species of flies found in 

 Honolulu and Kalawao, namely, Musca domestica, Sarcophaga pallincrvis, 8. 

 barJ)ata, Volucella obesa, and an undetermined species of Lucilia are reported. 



The conclusions drawn are as follows : " The above named flies, when given 

 an opportunity to feed upon leprous fluids, will contain the bacilli in their 

 intestinal tracts and feces for several days after such feeding. The above fact, 

 together with the well-known habits of these flies, make it certain that, given 

 an exposed leprous ulcer, these insects will frequently convey immense num- 

 bers of lepra bacilli, directly or indirectly, to the skins, nasal mucosa, and 

 digestive tracts of healthy persons. Our present state of knowledge does not 

 permit us to determine whether such insect-borne bacilli are or are not capable 

 of infecting persons whose skin and mucosa are thus contaminated ; but until 

 we have more accurate knowledge on this point we are justifled in regarding 

 these insects with grave suspicion as being one of the means of disseminating 

 leprous infection." 



The natural food of Glossina palpalis, D. Bruce et al. {Proc. Roy. 8oc. 

 [London], Ser. B, 82 {1910), No. B 558, pp. Jt9 0-497). —"Two hundred and 

 twenty G. palpalis were caught on various parts of the lake shore, and at in- 

 tervals extending over several months; they were examined about 24 hours 

 after capture. The examination of their intestinal contents revealed the fact 

 that about 27 per cent contained the remains of blood, the majority of which 

 was of mammalian origin. In the second experiment, 183 G. palpalis were 

 caught at one spot where the food supply was abundant^birds and crocodiles — 

 and the flies were examined at once. A much higher percentage (nearly 60 

 per cent) contained the remains of a blood meal. The blood in the majority of 

 the flies had been obtained from birds or reptiles, and of these the reptilian 

 blood was twice as frequent as the blood of birds." 



Mechanical transmission of sleeping sickness by the tsetse fly, D. Bruce 

 ET AL. {Proc. Roy. 8oc. [London], Ser. B, 82 {1910), No. B 558, pp. 498-501).— 

 " The mechanical transmission of sleeping sickness by means of Glossina pal- 

 palis can take place if the transference of the flies from the infected to the 

 healthy animal is instantaneous — that is, by interrupted feeding. This mechani- 

 cal transmission does not take place if an interval of time comes between the 

 feedings. Mechanical transmission plays a much smaller part, if any, in the 

 spread of sleeping sickness than has been supposed." 



Flies and vermin, W. H. Hamer {Ann. Rpt. Med. Off. Health, County Lorv- 

 don, 18 {1909), App. 4, pp. 9, dgms. 4). — In part 1 of this report, which is de- 

 voted to the fly nuisance, the author deals with the total yield of flies on fly 

 papers, the evidence as to nuisance at particular premises, differences observed 

 in the yield of flies obtained by using difl'erent forms of fly traps, the distri- 

 bution of flies by sexes, and further observations on the relation of the fly to 

 food contamination and to spread of disease, etc. It is said that 2 species of 

 rove beetle, Pterostichus madidus and Calathus cisteloides, were frequently 

 found and always in conjunction with mutilated flies, and that earwigs have a 

 marked partiality for flies. 



