8 



agency of Amhlyomma and 20 per cent, through the agency of 

 Stomoxys. The remaining 5 per cent, were directly inoculated through 

 the entry of organisms by abrasions from thorns, etc. That the one 

 genus of ticks should be so pernicious is due to the length of the rostrum, 

 to the habit of keeping the rostrum pendulous and so scooping up 

 the virus off contaminated ground, to the polyandrous habit 

 aggravating the lesion, and to the considerable longevity of the tick, 

 affording it an opportunity of leaving an infected host and attaching 

 itself to another. Stomoxys and Tabanids have been observed to infect 

 unabraded tissue by direct inoculation, and tick birds may be 

 mechanical carriers, as they peck at open wounds and go from one 

 animal to another. As regards prophylaxis, the author found in 

 Southern Rhodesia that if ticks were pulled off within 12 hours no 

 infection resulted, as the rostrum had not penetrated to the sub- 

 connective tissue. In the East African campaign this measure proved 

 fairly successful in the 4th S.A. Horse on the march. Even up to 

 24 hours the disease could be prevented by pulling the ticks off (rostrum 

 and all), squeezing the minute sinus which exudes a serous discharge, 

 and painting with iodised phenol (1 : 4). This method was eminently 

 successful [in South Africa] and all the B.S. A. police were supplied with 

 a small bottle and brush, and not one case occurred in the force after 

 its practical application. It could not be employed during this 

 campaign as drugs were unobtainable. Under peace conditions 

 tick eradication, the destruction of flies and of refuse, and the segre- 

 gation of malignantly infected wounds, may be adopted, but this 

 policy would require a few years. 



Ballowe (H. L.). The Breeding of Mosquitos in Alkaline Water.— 



Psyche, Boston, Mass., xxv, no. 4, August 1918, p. 96. [Received 

 31st October 1918.] 



The case is recorded of both Anopheles and Culex breeding in large 

 numbers in a solution of caustic soda, prepared to kill San Jose scale 

 and left standing exposed to the weather for about eight months. 

 Adults that developed from this solution appeared normal. 



Maktini (E.). Korperentlausung durch Enthaarungspulver zweeks 

 Fleckfieberbekampfung. [Freeing the Body from Lice by means 

 of a Depilatory^ order to combat Typhus] — Miinchener Med. 

 Wochenschr., Munich. Ixv, no. 15, 9th April 1918, p. 404. 



In maintaining the body free from lice, especially in the case of 

 individuals not o^er-particular as to the condition of their persons, 

 the use of a depilatory powder was found very valuable in Poland. 

 The powder contains strontium sulfuricum 2 parts, zinc oxide 1 part, 

 and powdered talc 1 part. For use the powder is worked to a thin 

 paste with water and this compound is then spread on the hair that 

 is to be removed. In 10-15 minutes the appUcation is dry and may 

 be lifted off the skin which remains quite smooth. This mathod is not 

 recommended for use on the head and face. It must be followed 

 by a bath and the sldn which has been treated may require to be 

 sfightly greased with oil or vaseline. 



