145 



Leon (N.). Quelques Observations sur les P6diculides.— J/. Para- 

 sitology, Urbana, III, vi, no. 3, March 1920, pp. 144-147. 

 [Received 7th June 1920.] 



These observations concerning Pediculus humanus (vestimenti) were 

 made during and after the epidemic of exanthematous typhus in 

 Rumania in 1917. Experiments showed that various substances, 

 chiefly essential oils that had previously been recommended, were not 

 effective in preventing the attack of lice. The essences of eucalyptus, 

 cloves and aniseed did not prevent oviposition on flannel, while 

 hungry lice would feed in spite of treatment with powdered sulphur, 

 turp'entine essence, balsam of Peru or tincture of Acorus calamus 

 (sweet flag). It has been proved that P. capitis will feed on guinea- 

 pigs and white mice ; similarly in experiments with P. humanus, 

 three out of five individuals fed when placed on a dog, two out of four 

 on a cat, and one out of five on a rabbit. None fed on frogs, chickens 

 or pigeons. Starving lice were used in all experiments. The use of 

 skim milk and melted butter by Rumanian shepherds to keep their 

 clothing free from lice suggested experiments with various greasy 

 substances including olive oil, vasehne and petroleum ; these showed 

 that the eggs may thus be prevented from sticking to the threads of 

 material, while in addition the larvae are asphyxiated before hatching, 

 and the adults may, after a time, be affected in the same way. 



Only one variety of body louse can be recognised. The differences 

 in colom- between individuals are due to age, and whether the insect 

 has fed recently ; those in the antennae to the fact that the larvae 

 have three joints while the adults have five, while differences in move- 

 ment have a variety of causes, hungry hce moving towards hght, 

 gorged ones away from it. 



A single experiment showed that lice can be carried by flies [Musca 

 domestica], and that they attach themselves to a suitable host when 

 opportunity arises. There is strong evidence from hospital experience 

 to show that typhus infection is not derived from dust or the debris or 

 dead bodies of hce, but only from the Kving insects themselves. 



Tejera (E.). La Leishmaniose am6rieaine au Venezuela. — Bull. Soc. 

 Path. ExoL, Paris, xiii, no. 4, 14th April 1920, pp. 238-240. 



An account is given of American leishmaniasis as occurring in 

 certain regions of Venezuela. In the western parts of the Repubhc 

 this disease is known as Picada de Pito, i.e., the bite of an insect about 

 the nature of which there is some dispute. Out of 62 cases examined 

 nearly all were contracted in the forests ; only two cases have been 

 found among inhabitants in the plains at some distance from the 

 woods. 



RouBAUD (E.). Nouvelle Contribution a 1' Histoire du Ver de Guin6e. 



—Btdl. Soc. Path. Exot., Paris, xiii, no. 4, 14th April 1920, 

 pp. 254-260. 



Recent investigations of the author regarding the infestation of 

 Cyclops from the Paris district w^th the guinea-worm have confirmed 

 the previous findings of Chatton in Tunisia [R.A.E., B, vi, 130, 141]. 



(704) Wt. P1850/163. 1,500. 9.20. B.&F.Ltd. Gp.11/14. a 



