43 



taken to prevent the spread of the disease and infected animals are 

 allowed to move freely about the town. Two cases of trj-panosomiasis 

 resembling acute dourine were observed in mules. The trypanosome 

 may have been the Runcorn Laboratory strain of T. equiperdum, but 

 in these cases the disease was not contracted during coitus. It is 

 therefore possible that dourine may be transmitted by biting insects 

 as well as mechanically in coitus. 



ScHWETZ (J.). Preliminary Note on the general Distribution of GJosdna 

 (2> 'palpalis, Rob. Desv., in the District of Lomarai, Belgian Congo. — 



Ann. Trop. Med. Parasit., Liverjjool, ix, no. 4, 30th December 

 1915, pp. 513-526, 1 map. 



The district of Lomami has a tropical climate, with two seasons 

 more or less marked according to the latitude. The altitude varies 

 from 1,000 to 5,000 metres. In the S.E. border the " park " or bush 

 type of vegetation is found ; the remainder is occupied by savannah, 

 traversed by belts of equatorial forest. Glossina palpalis in this district 

 occurs mainly in the vicinity of water covered or surrounded by dense 

 vegetation, and it does not occur in the neighbourhood of water when 

 the latter is bordered only with grass, reeds or papyrus. In the Lomami 

 district exceptions to this general principle are however found, being 

 adaptations to local conditions. Several examinations of a given spot 

 are necessary before it can be definitely asserted w^hether this fly is 

 present or not. The statement that G. paljMlis is active from sunrise 

 to sunset is incorrect. Other conditions being equal, G. palpalis appears 

 earlier and disappears later in the rainy season than in the dry season. 

 It is scarcely affected by fine, warm rain, bat its appearance is retarded 

 by heavy rain. On the fords of the Lukashi and the Lurimbi, both 

 of which routes are much traversed, the view of Roubaud that 

 G. palpalis is especially abundant at river-crossings which are 

 frequented by animals and men does not appear to hold. 



Fantham (H. B.) & Porter (A.). Some experimental Researches on 

 induced Herpetomoniasis in Birds. — Ann. Trop. Med. Parasit., 

 Liverp)Ool, ix, no. 4, 30th December 1915, pp. 543-558, 1 plate. 



The following general conclusions are reached as the result of a 

 series of experiments on the introduction of insect flagellates into 

 vertebrates : — Under suitable conditions insect flagellates can be 

 introduced into vertebrate hosts and can produce infection therein. 

 Infection, especially in bnds and mammals, may result in the death 

 of the host. Similar infections are known to occur naturally in mice 

 and pigeons. The organisms thus introduced retain their powers of 

 development on the same lines as when present in insects. The 

 morphological cycle of Leishniania is similar to that of Herpetomonas. 

 Various vertebrates may serve as reservoirs of leishmaniases. The 

 virus may be very attenuated and so escape detection, or may be 

 revealed by the presence of flagellate forms in cultures. It has also 

 been suggested by Stephens that each case of leishmaniasis in 

 vertebrates arises de novo from the introduction of insect flagellates. 



