155 



SouTHON (C. E.). Some Points of General Interest on the Subject of 

 Plague. — JJ. E. Africa & Uganda Nat. Hist. Soc, Nairobi, no. 14, 

 July J 919, pp. 361-381, 4 figs. 



This paper deals with the history and bacteriology of plague, 

 including the mode of transmission, in which fleas are by far the most 

 important factor. The general life-history and mode of dispersal 

 of these insects is discussed and the technique employed in collecting 

 and examining them is described. 



The following species are compared and described : Pulex irritans 

 (human flea) ; Xenopsylla (P.) cheopis (rat flea) ; Ceratophyllus 

 fasciatus (European rat flea) ; Ctenocephahis felis (cat flea) ; Ctenopsyllu 

 musculi, found on mice -and rats ; and Echidnophaga {Sarcopsylla) 

 gallinacea (fowl flea). 



Montgomery (R. E.). Insects and their Relation to some Diseases of 

 Stock.— J/. E. Africa & Uganda Nat. Hist. Soc, Nairobi, no. 14, 

 July 1919, pp. 381-400. 



This report of a lecture deals with the general mode of transmission 

 of various diseases of stock by means of insects, with special reference 

 to Diptera and Acarina. 



McDonald (A. H. E.). The Prevention of Blow-fly Attacks on Sheep 

 by Spraying. — Agric. Gaz. N.S.W., Sydney, xxx, no. 6, June 1919, 

 pp. 403-405, 3 figs. 



Experiments made to ascertain the value of spraying sheep as 

 a protection from blow-fly attacks show that, although this treatment 

 does not afford complete protection, it nevertheless greatly reduces 

 the numbers of affected sheep, the average being 33 per cent, in the 

 treated flocks as against 54 per cent, in the untreated ones. 



The materials used for these tests included an arsenical sheep 

 dip powder, a carbolic liquid dip and a mixture of which the active 

 agent was arsenite of soda. They were all applied by means of a 

 very heavy jet about | of an inch in diametre with a pressure of 

 about 60 lb. During the period of treatment crutching was omitted 

 and the application was repeated after six weeks. Apparently the 

 attacks are localised by this treatment, but further investigations 

 are being made to confirm this. 



HiEscHFELDER (A. D.) & MooRE (W.). CHnical studies on the Effects 

 of Louse Bites : Pediculus corporis. — Arch. Internal Med., Chicago, 

 ni, xxui, no. 4, 15th April 1919, pp. 419-430. 



The appearance of an eruption on the skin of persons in normal 

 health bitten by Pediculus humanus (corjjoris) has previously been 

 noted by Moore. The observations here recorded were undertaken 

 to determine if the above phenomenon is general or simply due 

 to a personal idiosyncracy. The conclusions reached are that the 

 louse secretes a substance sufficiently toxic to produce a generalised 

 cutaneous eruption and a mild fever. This may or may not be 

 a protein. The absence of any regularly^ occurring weal or other 

 lesion at the site of feeding demonstrates that it probably is not a 

 local irritant such as those introduced by the sting of a bee or the 

 bite of a mosquito, and it is probably not one of the lower organic acids. 



