129 



Keates (H. C). Note on a Case of Typhus-like Fever occurring at 

 Murree. — Indian Med. Gaz., Calcutta, Ivii, no. 3, March 1922, 

 pp. 101-102. 



The author records another case of a typhus-hke fever in India, 

 possibly transmitted by ticks [cf. R.A.E., B, ix, 214]. The chnical 

 aspect of the case is described. All necessary steps were taken to 

 disinfect the house and isolate contacts, and although there were four 

 other inhabitants in the house, no other case occurred. The roof of the 

 house was infested with flying squirrels. These were all cleared away 

 when the house was disinfected. Whether they were a source of 

 infection is not known, but it is perhaps significant that Rocky Mountain 

 fever is caused by an organism infesting squirrels and transmitted by 

 ticks. In the light of the article referred to above, it seems probable 

 that the case was one of Rock}^ Mountain fever rather than typhus 

 as was at first supposed. 



Williams (C). Notes on the Chemical Control o£ Cattle Dipping Tanks. 



— 5. African Jl. Sci., Johannesburg, xviii, nos. 1-2, December 

 1921, pp. 147-153. [Received 19th April 1922.] 



In a previous paper [R.A.E., B, iii, 219] the author emphasised 

 the need for a periodical chemical analysis of arsenical dip fluids from 

 cattle-dipping tanks, but cases have come to his notice in which the 

 amount of oxidised arsenic in the tank is too serious to be ignored. 

 The results of periodical analyses of fluids taken from both tanks on the 

 Cedara Experiment Farm during the past two years are given. 



In estimating the arsenic in ordinary dip fluids by titration With 

 standard iodine solution, the error due to absorption of the iodine by 

 the organic matter in the dip fluid is negligible if the fluid is first 

 clarified by the aid of a few cubic centimetres of either strong hydro- 

 chloric or sulphuric acid. It has been stated that frequent addition of 

 fresh excretory matter to the dipping tank retards the oxidising action 

 and causes speedy reduction of the oxidised arsenic. 



Experience has shown that some tanks, although fulfilling these 

 conditions, still show a serious weakening of strength by oxidation. It 

 is therefore essential that farmers should forward samples periodically 

 to a laboratory for proper chemical analysis as a check on tests carried 

 out by themselves. 



Standard solutions of iodine supplied by certain dealers to farmers 

 for testing their fluid dips appear to keep their strength for three to 

 four months, but afterwards deteriorate fairly rapidly. Water con- 

 taining an appreciable amount of saline matter, especially salts of iron 

 and of the alkaline earths, when used in making up a dip fluid, may 

 cause serious precipitation of both the oxidised and the unoxidised 

 arsenic in the dipping tank. Salts of sodium and potassium in the water 

 would have no such deleterious effect. 



Hirst (S.). Mites injurious to Domestic Animals. (With an Appendix 

 on the Acarine Disease of Hive Bees.) — Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist., 

 London, Econ. Ser. no. 13, 1922, 107 pp., 85 figs. Price 3s. 



A full and detailed account is given of the Arachnids or mites that 

 are injurious to domestic animals, and the forms of mange to which 

 they give rise. 



The connection between the Tarsonemids, Acarapis woodi, Rennie, 

 and Tarsonemus apis, Rennie, and the Isle of Wight disease of bees 

 is discussed [R. A.E., A, ix, 338]. 



