150 



each occasion. The copra shipments swarmed with a small beetle^ 

 Necrobia mfipes, which the men erroneously believed to be the cause 

 of the itch. Another beetle, Silvanus {Oryzaephilus) surinamensis, was 

 also noticed, but in very small numbers. The copra dust contained large 

 numbers of dead specimens of the mite, Tyroglyphus longior, Gerv., 

 but no living individuals were seen. Experiments showed that dead 

 mites and copra dust containing dead mites are able to cause dermatitis. 

 The greater incidence of this affection in summer may be due to 

 increased persphation or to the presence of living mites that have 

 survived the voyage owing to the warm weather. Therapeutic 

 measures are superfluous, as the disease disappears when unloading is 

 over ; and prophylactic measures are not warranted, as the trouble is 

 not serious ; individuals that are particularly sensitive to this 

 dermatitis should not be chosen for the work. The men should be 

 warned not to take any copra home. If the copra is shipped in pack- 

 ages much less dust will result. 



Another mite, T. agilis, Can., was also found, but it is not possible 

 to say what part it plays in causing copra itch. 



FuLLEBORN (F.). UbcF Larbisch und Wolossjatik (Hautmaulwurf). 



[Larbish and Wolossjatik (Mole burrowing in the Skin)]. — Arcli.f, 



Schiffs- u. Trop.-Hyg., Leijysic, xxiii, no. 13, July 1919, pp. 259-277, 



3 figs., 1 plate. 



The skin disease known as " Wolossjatik " in Kussia and called 



" Hautmaulwurf " (mole of the skin) by Samson-Himmelstjerna 



appears to be caused by larvae of Gastwphilus of retarded development 



and consequent small size — 1 mm. long. These larvae wander in the 



epithelium or in the corneal layer, and as the most superficial grazing 



of the skin can aft'ord them an entrance, it is immaterial whether they 



penetrate through wounds or through the unbroken skin. The 



tropical disease known as "Larbish" or " Oerbiss " resembles 



"Wolossjatik" in all respects. Roubaud considers that this is not 



due to insect parasites, and calls it " pseudo-myiase rampante " 



[R.A.E., B, vii, 28]. The author is convinced that in West Africa 



there is a form of this disease of parasitic origm, probably due to 



larvae of Gaslrophilus. 



Kleine (F. K.). Die Schlafkrankheit in Kamerun, [Sleeping Sick- 

 ness in Kamerun.] — Arch. f. Schiffs- v. Trop.-Hyg., Leipsic, 

 xxiii, no. 15, July 1919, pp. 315-331, 1 map. 



This paper is prepared from an official report dated August 1914, 

 which only reached the German government in 1919 owing to the War. 

 The journey through Kamerun lasted from April to August 1914 and 

 was undertaken in order to ascertain the extent to which the habits 

 of Glossina and the local conditions differ from those in East Africa. 



The distribution of Glossina palpalis, especially on the larger rivers,, 

 is described. 



All traffic and fishing on the rivers should be forbidden by day, 

 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and should be subject to supervision. Resting 

 by day should be permitted only at cleared stations. In utilising 

 clearing and cultural measures, those applied quite close to native or 

 European settlements are likely to be the most successful. It s. 

 unnecessary to remove the roots of large trees that have been felled. 



