Leprosy 253 



From these experiments he concluded, first, that all of the above- 

 named flies, when given an opportunity to feed upon leprous fluids, 

 will contain the bacilli in their intestinal tracts and feces for several 

 days after such feeding. Second, that considering the habits of 

 these flies, and especially those of Musca domestica, it is certain that, 

 given an exposed leprous ulcer, these insects will frequently convey 

 immense numbers of lepra bacilli, directly or indirectly, to the skins, 

 nasal mucosa, and digestive tracts of healthy persons. Additional 

 evidence along this line has recently been brought forward by 

 Honeij and Parker (1914), who incriminate both Musca domestica 

 and Stomoxys calcitrans. Whether or not such insect-borne bacilli 

 are capable of infecting persons whose skin and mucosa are thus 

 contaminated, Currie was unwilling to maintain, but he concludes 

 that until we have more accurate knowledge on this point, we are 

 justified in regarding these insects with grave suspicion of being 

 one of the means of disseminating leprous infection. 



Various students of the subject have suggested that bed-bugs 

 may be the carriers of leprosy and have determined the presence of 

 acid-fast bacilli in the intestines of bed-bugs which had fed on leprous 

 patients. Opposed to this, the careful experiments of Thompson 

 (1913) and of Skelton and Parkham (1913) have been wholly nega- 

 tive. 



Borrel has recently suggested that Demodex, may play a role in 

 spreading the infection in families. Many other insects and acariens 

 have been suggested as possible vectors, but the experimental data 

 are few and in no wise conclusive. The most that can be said is that 

 it is quite possible that under favorable conditions the infection 

 might be spread by any of the several blood-sucking forms or by 

 house-flies. 



Verruga peruviana 



Verruga peruviana is defined by Castellani and Chalmers as "a 

 chronic, endemic, specific, general disorder of unknown origin, not 

 contagious, but apparently inoculable, and characterized by an ir- 

 regular fever associated with rheumatoid pains, anemia, followed 

 by granulomatous swellings in the skin, mucous membranes, and 

 organs of the body." It has been generally believed by medical 

 men interested that the comparatively benign eruptive verruga is 

 identical with the so-called Oroya, or Carrion's fever, a malignant 

 type. This view is not supported by the work of Strong, Tyzzer 

 and Brues, (1913). 



