REVIEW — TROPICAL IIEDICINE, ETl!. 199 



Motschnikotf dealt with prophylaxis, especially as regards the use of his preventive Syphilis- 

 ointment, the formula for which is : — continuai 



Calomel, 33 grammes 



Pure lanoline, 67 ,, 



Vaseline, 10 ,, 



If properly and carefully prepared on this basis, and if applied within a few hours of 

 exposure to the risk of infection, Metschnikoii' considers the above ointment as an absolute 

 safeguard, but as it is certainly useless at a later period, he has continued his researches in 

 the hope of finding some preventive treatment, which would be successful when applied 

 some days after exposure. He tried atoxyl treatment both in the case of men and monkeys, 

 but though it possesses a certain value, the toxicity of the drug is against it, and Metschnikoff 

 aims at finding some other efficacious but less toxic form of arsenic. 



Possibly the ' Kharsin ' and ' Orsudan ' of Messrs. Burroughs Wellcome & Co., which 

 have been tried in syphilis by Ward,' may meet the case. {See special paper on 

 " Trypanosomiasis," Third Eeport.) 



Neisser,-* who experimented on apes, concluded that it was impossible to obtain a 

 serum which will produce immunity. He successfully inoculated apes which had been 

 infected twice before and been twice cured. He believes a radical cure of the disease is 

 possible by treatment with mercuric iodide and also atoxyl, and is convinced that the serum 

 diagnosis of syphilis is useful and affords a reliable test of complete cure. In the Medical 

 ^litHiial for 1907, a good rt'sinnc of some of the more important recent work will be found, 

 including staining methods for S. pallida, the results of the examination of tertiary lesions, 

 and the contagiousness of gumma. 



Ticks. A useful monograph, especially to those working in Africa, is that by Donitz,^ 

 who gives synoptic tables of genera and species, as well as a general biological account of 

 these insects. 



The generally accepted classification of ticks is that of Neumann, but with this 

 Warburton'' declares himself to be dissatisfied and proposes, in lieu of it, the following : — 



IXODOIDEA 



1 



Group 1 Group 2 Group 1 Group 2 



Hwmaphysalis Dcrmnccnlor Uyalomma Amblyomma 



Boophilus Aponoin ma 



Margaropus 

 Rhipicejihahts 



He gives very useful hints for the determination of genera, which we quote in full, and 

 reference should be made to his attached diagrammatical figures which will greatly facilitate 

 recognition : — 



Males and slightly distended females should be selected for e.xamiaation if possible. 



The rostrum or capitulum and scutum are generally sufficient to indicate the genus, and these should be 

 examined tirst, the conclusion being verified by reference to other structures. It is soon seen that there is a 

 long type and a short type of rostrum. 



If the rostrum is long, the genus is either Ixodes, Hualommn, Amblyoimnn, or Aponommn. 



If the palps are narrow at the base, leaving a gap between them and the hypostome, it is probably Ixodes. 

 Verify by looking for the anal groove in front of the anus, the absence of eyes and festoons, and the circular or 

 oval peritremes. 



1 Ward, W. A. (April, 1908), " Atoxyl and its Value in the Treatment of Syphilis." IbU. 

 ■ Neisser, A. Quoted in British Malical Journal, January 11th, 1908, Vol. I. 

 = Donitz, W. (Leipzig, 1907). "Die Zecken." 



* Warburton, C. (December 11th, 1907). " Notes on Ticks." Journal of Economic Biology, Vol. II., No. 3. 



* Article not consulted in the original. 



