122 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. xxix. 



The interest in this subject is further accentuated by the statement 

 that Doctor Carrasquillo, of Bogota, lias found the bacillus of Hansen 

 in the intestinal contents of fleas. It is thus open to question if the 

 fleas are not the agents for the communication of leprosy. In accord- 

 ance with the aliove generalization it becomes of pressing importance 

 to examine large series of rat fleas from the various tropical and sub- 

 tropical ports, and likewise those of human beings and cats and dogs 

 from the same places. This will be a difficult matter to accomplish 

 unless the interest of resident physicians and scientific men generally 

 can be enlisted. Their attention is herewith invited to these prob- 

 lems. Material can be gathered very readily, the apparatus needed 

 being simply a rat trap, vials of alcohol, and tweezers. The services 

 of the author are freel}^ offered in connection with the working up of 

 the material, and prompt reports will be submitted. The residence 

 of the author in the vicinity of Habana — a leprosy center — offers 

 exceptional opportunity for an investigation first hand of the problem 

 for Cuba, and this is being carried out as rapidly as possible. 



Doctor Lutz, of the Instituto Bacteriologico in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 

 was one of the first scientists in the Americas to turn his attention to 

 this important problem. The author had the honor of examining the 

 material gathered l)y Doctor Lutz as long ago as 1899, and it was 

 reported on in the Revision, with most interesting results. This was, 

 however, but a limited material, taken at a single locality, and that in 

 the interior of the country. It sharply emphasized the great impor- 

 tance of gathering a copious material from all the seaport towns of 

 tropical America. Doctor Lutz has lately been making other sendings, 

 from which we expect some very interesting results. Doctor Carter, 

 of Galveston; Doctor Davidson, of Los Angeles, and Mr. W. J. Rain- 

 bow, of Sydney, have been making valuable contributions of material. 



Collections of fleas actually found biting human beings throughout 

 all the warmer regions of the earth are much needed for this study. It 

 rests with the bacteriologists to prove the actual transmission of dis- 

 ease. If a flea will leave a diseased rat and then bite a human being, 

 this fact should be made known. Fleas of species commonly known to 

 bite human beings may be observed here in Cuba crawling about on 

 foul sores on the innumerable miserable dogs of the streets. Surely 

 this should have a keen interest for all persons concerned — scientist 

 and layman. The actual introduction of bacilli into the intestinal 

 canal of the flea is not an essential premise if dried blood may be found 

 on the rostrum of the flea. Whether a careful study of the species 

 actually occurring on man and the lower animals may show that the 

 transmission of disease in this way is improbable, it remains none 

 the less true that this phase of the prolilem should be thoroughly 

 worked out. The writer is progressing with a considerable contribu- 

 tion on this sul)ject. 



