30 



spontaueously infected M'ith Leisliinania. He finds a difficulty 

 in understanding liow with the wide distribution of Leishmania 

 and such a large number of possible vehicles for its transmission, 

 cases of kala-azar are relatively so few and that, at all events within 

 his own observation, what may be called family epidemics, which 

 ought to take place in these circumstances, are wanting. If all 

 the insects in whose body Leishmania, or forms at present un- 

 distinguishable from Leishmania, have been discovered, are 

 capable of transmitting tLe malady to human beings, why are 

 there not more cases ^ 



In his opinion the epidemiology of hala-azar does not corre- 

 spond with the view that one of the common blood-sucking insects 

 is the vehicle, but rather that the disease is due to the bite of 

 some insect which, in all probability, is hj no means so common 

 as those which have been incriminated, and that its bite is rather 

 accidental than habitual. Thus, whilst not denying the pos- 

 sibility that one of the common blood-sucking insects, possibly a 

 Cimex or a Pulej\ may be a carrier, for the reasons above given, 

 he is not satisfied that these insects are the ordinary carriers. 



A bibliography of the subject concludes the article. 



Spexcer (H. a.). Chig-ger Flea or ''Chigoe" in the Transvaal. — 

 Transvaal Medical Journal, viii. no. 5, Dec. 1912, p. 833. 



This pest has latelj" appeared in the local gaol at Middelburg. 

 It has been already' reported in the Transvaal and appears to be 

 spreading. The cases were entirely confined to native prisoners. 



Forty years ago this flea was introduced into Ambriz, south 

 of the Congo, by a ship from Brazil, and spread with incredible 

 rapiditj-. It was supposed to have been taken to the region of 

 the Great Lakes by Stanley's expedition, and during the last 

 25 years it has spread south and east, so that in many parts of 

 tropical Africa it is more common than in South America or the 

 West Indies. It does not appear to have spread elsewhere in 

 temperate climates, but is at present endemic in Zanzibar. 

 Mauritius and in other parts of the east coast of Africa. 



There is now no doubt that this pest has obtained a footing in 

 South Africa, and will be found in many at present unsuspected 

 places, such as gaols, compounds of mines, etc., in fact, wherever 

 the East Coast boy goes. In addition to being spread by the 

 feet of these natives, the flea will ahect any warm-blooded animal, 

 especiallj' rats and fowls, whilst in every cormtry where they 

 occur they are believed to be carried about by pigs, and the 

 styes of these animals harbour great numbers. The parasite has 

 been credited with the conveyance of '' yaws,"' but this is probably 

 unfounded. 



Noel (P.). La Guerre aux Mouches. [Destruction of Flies.] — 

 Bull, dii Lahoiatoire Regional d'Entomolof/ie agricule, 

 Rouen, 1913, pp. 4 & 5. 



In the course of this article, which is chieflj- a summary of 

 work done in the United States and England, the author cites 



