6 Mosquitoes 



as a rule, no after-effect save a small red spot, but if 

 the insect is killed or driven away, the itching is in- 

 tense. The sharpness of the bite and the effect of the 

 poison appear to vary with different species of mos- 

 quitoes as well as with different victims. 



Dr. Dupree speaks in his notes of Schaudinn's 

 demonstration of the existence of bacteria or molds 

 in mosquito ova. Indeed, the latter claims that 

 these fungi, belonging to the Mycetse, and possibly 

 nearly allied to Entomophracse, can be found, in all 

 stages of proliferation, in every phase of the insect's 

 existence, eggs included. Immediately after feeding 

 but few of the organisms are present in the diver- 

 ticulse, together with traces of blood and bubbles of 

 carbonic acid gas. During the digestive process, 

 however, they increase immensely, while the aug- 

 mented gas production distends the gut to such an 

 extent as to give the mosquito the appearance of 

 suffering from some digestive affection. Schaudinn 

 questions the dictum which has for so long a time 

 dominated both professional and lay belief, viz.: that 

 the local reaction consequent upon the mosquito's 

 puncture is due to the poisonous saliva injected, 

 affirming that it is the direct result of the initial 

 action of an enzyme elaborated by these commensal 

 bacteria, which are always present in greater or less 

 quantity. In proof of this, he asserts that subcu- 

 taneous inoculation with solutions of comminuted 

 mosquito diverticulae and their bacterial contents 

 (the carbon dioxide having been previously expelled 

 by pressure), is followed by the characteristic 

 effects of a veritable mosquito bite, an occurrence 



