61 



Waterfield (N. E.). Two Cases of Filariasis. — Brit. Med. Jl., London, 

 no. 2976, 12tli January 1918, p. 54. 



These cases of filariasis are recorded from the Red Sea httoral of 

 Arabia. Mosquitos {Culex, Stegomyia and Anophelines) abound in 

 Jeddah, and this natural source of infection is accentuated by the 

 presence of pilgrims from Central Africa, where filiariasis is rife. At 

 Suakin, however, on the Sudan Red Sea littoral, where the conditions 

 are exactly similar, even to the presence of pilgrims, the disease is 

 unknown. The blood of both patients was found to contain embryos 

 of Filaria bancrofti. 



Lefroy (H. M.). Two Experiments in House Fumigation. — A^in. App. 

 Biol., London, iv, no. 3, December 1917, pp. 115-118. 



The first experimental fumigation of a whole house here described 

 was in the case of one in the suburbs of Pusa, badly infested with the 

 house mite {Glycyphagus domesticiis), which had been driven into every 

 part of the house by the attempted fumigation of single rooms. The 

 house, which was composed of twelve rooms having a volume of 

 approximately 30,000 cub. ft., was prepared by closing all apertures, 

 all internal doors being left open. The insecticides tried were hydro- 

 cyanic acid gas and carbon bisulphide, the latter being used for the 

 floors ; the quantities required were 40 lb. of 98 per cent, cyanide 

 with 40 lb. sulphuric acid, and 54 lb. carbon bisulphide. The 

 chemicals were apportioned to the various rooms, etc., and the 

 fumigation was carried out by three men, beginning at the top of the 

 house. The total cost of chemicals worked out at about £3 lOs. On 

 visiting the house 26 hours later the fumes were so strong that it was 

 impossible to enter it, so that it remained shut up for a total period of 

 69 hours. On opening it, search revealed a few living mites, but three 

 months later no more had been found, and two months later still 

 the house was repoi"ted absolutely clear. Probably a second fumi- 

 gation 14 days later would have destroyed every mite, though both 

 the egg and the hypopial stage of this pest are very resistant to 

 fumigation. 



The experiment shows that cyanide and carbon bisulphide can be 

 used together ; the escaping vapours are not offensive to neighbouring 

 houses ; the escape of gas from an ordinary house is slow ; bisulphide 

 vapour escapes slowly from ordinary ventilated floors ; the cost of 

 fumigation is not excessive ; neither gas damages the contents of a 

 house ; a single fumigation at the strength used may be sufficient by 

 destroying practically all the mites and making further increase 

 impossible ; carbon bisulphide alone, however, even at this strength is 

 not very effective. 



The second case of fumigation was that of a two-storey, semi-detached 

 house of 18,000 cub. ft. capacity heavily infested with the usual wingless 

 type of book-lice (Psocidae). The infestation, which had lasted from 

 April to August was due to the two foot space below the floor being 

 damp and not well ventilated, the beams being covered with fungus 

 and the whole forming a breeding-place for the Psocids, partial treat- 

 ment as before having driven them from room to room. A similar 

 fumigation was carried out with tetrachlorethane instead of carbon 



