26 



mediary host of human trypanosomiasis. At this stage the experi- 

 ments had to be abandoned. 



KoTH (P. B.). Report and Remarks on a Small Epidemic of Polio- 

 myelitis. — The Lancet, London, 15th Nov. 1913 ; Reprint 8 pp., 

 3 figs. 



This epidemic consisted of six cases, which occurred in five small 

 villages around Deddington, Oxfordshire, between 9th August and 

 15th September 1911. There was no death. The nature of the onset, 

 the pai'ts afiected and the recovery of each case is described. The 

 c^uestion of how the infection could have been conveyed in this epidemic 

 is of interest. The impossibility of direct infection is clear, owing to 

 the distances between the cases, which arose one after the other in a 

 circular course. The author states that the only point in their environ- 

 ment which was the same in all the cases, was the close proximity of 

 stables. It has been demonstrated conclusively that poliomyelitis 

 can be transmitted from monkey to monkey through the agency of the 

 stable fly (Stowoxys calcitrans). This fly is also found in large numbers 

 in this country and is sometimes mistaken for Musca domestica (the 

 house-fl}'). It breeds in decaying vegetable matter, and is found about 

 stables and cowsheds. It is most prevalent in August and September, 

 and attacks human beings, horses and cattle. A disease in horses, 

 which seems closely allied to poliomyelitis, has been recently discovered 

 at Borna, near Leipzig, and named the " Bornasche Krankheit." The 

 infective material (in the laboratory) is very resistant to cold, and the 

 disease much more common in warm weather, and yet the epidemics 

 stop as soon as the cooler weather comes, seeming to suggest that the 

 infection is carried by some insect that is killed or disappears as soon 

 as summer ends. From a consideration of the cases, it would seem that 

 this epidemic was originated by infected Stomoocys biting Case I. in the 

 cattle-yard at Fritwell ; that the nifected patient was bitten by other 

 Stomoxys, which in turn became infected, and were carried by horses 

 or cattle or on carts and waggons through other villages, biting in turn 

 the other children. If this theory should prove to be correct, viz., the 

 transmission of poliomyelitis by Stomoxys, then it should be possible, 

 by a wholesale crusade against this fly, to banish the disease from large 

 regions of the globe. 



Edwards (F. W.). New Synonymy in Oriental Culicidae. — Bull. 

 Entom. Research, London, iv, pt. 3, Nov. 1913, pp. 221-242. 



In connection wath the preparation of a tabular synopsis of the 

 Oriental mosquitos, the author has found it necessary to make many 

 corrections in the nomenclature, which are here set forth. In all, 63 

 species are dealt with, and no less than 80 specific names are sunk, 

 while the probable synonymy of eight or ten others is suggested ; 

 two new names are proposed. 



Simpson (J. J.). Entomological Research in British West Africa. 

 IV. Sierra Leone. — Bull. Entom. Research, London, iv, pt. 3, 

 Nov. 1913, pp. 151-190, 5 pi., 1 map. 



The present paper is the fourth of the series by the same author 



