72 



Fry (A. S.). An Epidemic of Fifty-four Cases of Relapsing Fever 

 observed in Birjand, East Persia.—Indian Med. Gaz., Calcutta, 

 Iv, no. 1, Jauuar}^ 1920, pp. 2-8, 1 plate, 19 charts. 



The symptomatology and treatment of relapsing fever during an 

 epidemic which occurred in January 1919 in East Persia is described. 

 The disease was chiefly disseminated by lice and in a few instances 

 by bed-bugs. A louse taken from a patient and crushed showed 

 the presence of spirochaetes when stained, but the degree of louse- 

 infestation apparently bore no relation to the severity of the disease. 



Ellenberger (W. p.) & Chapin (R. M.). Cattle-Fever Ticks and 

 Methods of Eradication. — U.S. Dept. Agric, Washington, D.C., 

 Farmers' Bull. 1057, October 1919, 32 pp., 5 figs., 4 tables. 

 [Received 10th February 1920.] 



The bulk of the information contained in this bulletin has been 

 noticed elsewhere [R.A.E., B, vi, 143, etc.]. 



The properties of substances used in making dips are discussed ; 

 these include white arsenic, caustic soda, lye, sodium carbonate and 

 pine-tar. The dips advocated include the S.-B., or "self-boiled" dip, 

 consisting of arsenic stock and tar stock. To make the former, 4 lb. 

 of caustic soda is dissolved in 1 U.S. gal. of water, to which 10 lb. of 

 white arsenic should be added in portions of 1 to 2 lb. at a time. The 

 liquid should be continually stirred unless it begins to boil, in which 

 case it must be allowed to cool before continuing the addition of 

 arsenic. Should the liquid remain muddy or milky, another gallon 

 of water should be added, and if it still does not clear, it must be 

 placed on the fire and heated nearly but not quite to boiling point 

 so as to dissolve the arsenic ; after this the mixture should be diluted 

 to about 4 U.S. gals, and 10 lb. of washing-soda crystals should be added 

 and stirred until dissolved. When cold, the solution should be made 

 up to 5 U.S. gals, with water and allowed to settle. This arsenic 

 stock may be kept in jugs or demijohns if well corked, but it must not 

 be mixed with the tar stock except in the diluted dipping bath. 



The tar stock consists of f lb. of caustic soda dissolved in 1 U.S. qt. 

 of water to which 1 U.S. gal. of pine-tar is added, the whole being well 

 stirred. This mixture may be tested by dropping about a teaspoonful 

 of it into a glass of water. Should globules of tar be visible more 

 caustic soda in solution must be added to the mixture, which when 

 ready may be stocked in closed containers. 



Another dip known as the "boiled" dip consists of 24 lb. of w^ashing- 

 soda crystals, 8 lb. white arsenic, 1 U.S. gal. of pine-tar and 25 U.S. 

 gals, of water. 



This may be diluted to a 500 U.S. gal. bath, whereas 1 U.S. gal. of 

 S.-B. dip will make 125 U.S. gals, of bath. The method of replenishing 

 the bath and correcting its strength, as well as the precautions necessary 

 in the use of arsenic and arsenical dips, are discussed at length. 



Hutchison (R. IT.). U.S. Bur. Entom. Experiments with Steam 

 Disinfectors in destroying Lice in Clothing.— ^JL Parasitology, 

 Urbana, 111., vi^ no. 2, December 1919, pp. 65-78. 

 Experiments have been made to ascertain the mimmum require- 

 ments as regards pressure, time and temperature for louse destruction 



