Mites and Ticks 23 



described painful swelling, gangrene, loss of speech, cramps, deliri- 

 um, unconsciousness and even death. Opposed to the numerous loose 

 accounts of poisoning, there are a number of careful records by 

 physicians and zoologists which indicate clearly that the effects are 

 local and though they may be severe, they show not the slightest 

 symptom of direct poisoning. 



More important in the consideration of the question is the fact 

 that there are neither poison glands nor pores in the fangs for the 

 exit of any poisonous secretion. This is the testimony of a number 

 of prominent zoologists, among whom is Dr. A. Walter, who wrote 

 to Kobert at length on the subject and whose conclusions are pre- 

 sented by him. 



However, it should be noted that the fangs are very powerful 

 and are used in such a manner that they may inflict especially severe 

 wounds. Thus, there may be more opportunity for secondary 

 infection than is usual in the case of insect wounds. 



The treatment of the bite of the Solpugida is, therefore, a matter 

 of preventing infection. The wound should be allowed to bleed 

 freely and then washed out with a 1 13000 solution of corrosive 

 sublimate, and, if severe, a wet dressing of this should be applied. 

 If infection takes place, it should be treated in the usual man- 

 ner, regardless of its origin. 



THE ACARINA, OR MITES AND TICKS 



A number of the parasitic Acarina evidently secrete a 

 specific poison, presumably carried by the saliva, but in most cases 

 its effect on man is insignificant. There is an abundant literature 

 dealing with the poisonous effect of the bite of these forms, especially 

 the ticks, but until recently it has been confused by failure to recog- 

 nize that various species may transmit diseases of man, rather than 

 produce injury through direct poisoning. We shall therefore 

 discuss the Acarina more especially in subsequent chapters, dealing 

 with parasitism and with disease transmission. 



Nevertheless, after the evidence is sifted, there can be no doubt 

 that the bites of certain ticks may occasionally be followed by a 

 direct poisoning, which may be either local or general in its effects. 

 Nuttall (1908) was unable to determine the cause of the toxic effect, 

 for, in Argas persicus, the species most often implicated, he failed to 

 get the slightest local or general effect on experimental animals, from 

 the injection of an emulsion prepared by crushing three of the ticks. 



