59 



in tropical Africa. Previous to the observations recorded in the present 

 paper, the author has observed this insect attacking a Uzard. This 

 isolated observation might have been accidental, but that reptiles 

 may be regarded as among the normal hosts of Phlebotomus is indicated 

 by the further observations made by the author in the neighbourhood 

 of Dakar in Senegal, where he found numbers of specimens of 

 P. minufus var. africMnus feeding on a python. The python was at the 

 time kept in a cage ; when moving it was unattacked by the flies, 

 which withdrew to the corners of the cage, but as soon as it came to 

 rest, the insects swarmed upon it, sucking its blood. 



Howlett has observed that in India, Geckos are the natural hosts 

 of P. minutus [see this Review Ser. B. i. p. 211]. Evidence of this 

 kind bearing upon the biology of the species of Phlebotomus, may prove 

 of service in deahng with Mediterranean fever, transmitted by 

 P. pap2)atasii. 



TowNSEND (C. H. T.). Human Case of Verruga directly traceable to 



Phlebotomus verrucarum (Dipt.).—Enfom. News, Philadelphia, 

 XXV, no. 1, Jan. 1914, p. 40. 



The author gives a brief outline of the case of his assistant in the 

 verruga work, who, in spite of the precautions taken during the stay 

 at Verrugas Canyon, developed unmistakable symptoms of the disease. 

 Proper nets were used for sleeping under, but during the night Mr. 

 Nicholson evidently brought his hands into contact with the net, for 

 in the morning there were fifty-five unmistakable Phlebotomus bites on 

 the back of his hands and wrists. Examination of Mr. Nicholson's 

 blood after a few days (1st October) showed the presence of verruga 

 x-bodies. These continued in small numbers without clinical symp- 

 toms of note. About twenty-five days later a decided rise of tempera- 

 ture occurred and the x-bodies were found to be much increased in 

 number. His case appeared to be of the benign type and his tempera- 

 ture soon lowered. At the time of writing (10th November) no eruption 

 had appeared. Salvarsan was administered intravenously for the 

 purpose of determining whether it would prove a specific against the 

 disease. 



Edwards (C. W.). Cattle-Tick Eradication. — Philippine Agric. 

 Review, Manila, vii, no. 1, Jan. 1914, pp. 44-45. 



In many parts of the Islands the cattle tick is a serious menace to 

 the hve-stock industry. The ill effects from these pests may be classed 

 as twofold : (1) Loss of condition through the constant irritation and 

 loss of blood ; (2) diseases transmitted to the cattle by these agents. 

 A tick formula given, and which has been used with excellent results 

 at the Trinidad stock-farm, is : — Arsenic trioxide, commercial, 8 lb. ; 

 sodium carbonate, crystalUsed, 24 lb. ; yellow soap, 24 lb. ; pine 

 tar, 6| pints. Dissolve the arsenic in 16 to 25 gals, of water by boiling 

 30 to 40 minutes and add a snfficient amount of water to make 83 gals. 

 Dissolve the soda in 16 to 25 gals, of water ; dissolve the soap in the 

 soda solution ; pour the tar into this in a fine stream, stirring at the 

 same time. Mix the two solutions and add enough water to make 

 415 gals. The effectiveness of the mixture appears to be increased by 

 substituting one-half of the amount of pine tar with 1 quart of coal 



(C25) a2 



