60 



the 3 and 5 per cent, solutions require 2 hours. Soft soap is only useful 

 as a mechanical aid when bathing. The second section deals with 

 experiments with a vacuum apparatus, none of which were of practical 

 use. 



Young (A.). Arthropod Parasites suggested as a Factor in the 

 Aetiology of Soldier's Heart and allied War Diseases. — Canadian 

 Med. Assoc. JL, Toronto, vii, no. 11, November 1917, pp. 1020- 

 1024. 



It is suggested that the digestive secretion of parasitic animals, 

 hitherto considered innocuous, may act as a toxin when introduced into 

 the tissues of the human subject, and that the life- cycle of insects may 

 explain the peculiar outbreaks and disappearances of epidemics, even 

 when of bacterial origin, as there are probably many symbiotic 

 relationships between insects and bacteria. 



Hirst (S). On Three new Parasitic Acari. — Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., 

 London, xx, no. 120, December 1917, pp. 431-434. 



The new mites described are Chirodiscoides caviae, gen. et sp. n., 

 infesting the guinea-pig; Demodex muscardini, sp. n., found on 

 Musca,rdinus avellanarms {dovmouse) ; and D. erinacei, sp. n., which 

 is possibly a variety of D. caninus, on an EngUsh hedgehog. 



Shipley (A. E.). Health and Insect Life in War and Peace. — Jl. State 

 Medicine, London, xxv, no. 12, pp. 353-369. 



This paper gives a popular account of the more common insects that 

 attack man or his domestic animals, as well as those that interfere with 

 his food supply. 



WiLLOUGHBY (W. M.). Outbreaks of Plague on S.S. Sardinia and 

 Matiana, 1917. — Lancet, London, cxciii, no. 4919, 8th December 

 1917, pp. 867-869. 



Fatal outbreaks of plague on two ships between Bombay and 

 London are attributed to partial fumigation of these vessels. In each 

 case cargo was discharged at an intermediate port, the holds being 

 fumigated before unloading, and the outbreaks took place subsequent 

 to fumigation. If the assumption be true that the rats were driven to 

 the Hving quarters, it is important that all possible paths of communica- 

 tion for rats be closely investigated in any partial fumigation of a ship 

 and the living quarters fumigated simultaneously with the holds, if 

 the rats have a path of escape to them. The author also doubts whether 

 the rat infection existing on these ships would have been disclosed at 

 the proper moment for most effective action had the human cases not 

 occurred. In practice the present safeguard against the landing of 

 infected rats is the power of the port sanitary authorities to put 

 questions and make examinations concerning rat mortality and sick 

 rats. In the absence of repetition of the questions from day to day 

 during a ship's stay in port a discovery of importance may not be 

 disclosed at the proper time for effective action, if at all. 



