48 PAPPATACI FEVER [CH. 



main breeding places, the task of destroying the immature 

 stages is practically insurmountable. At present it is only 

 possible to take precautions against being bitten by the insects 

 and the simplest method is the use of repellents. Major Craw- 

 ford recommends the following mixture which is said to be a 

 very efficient deterrent : Ol. Anisi, 3 grs. ; Ol. Eucalypti, 3 grs. ; 

 Ol. Terebenth, 3 grs. ; Ung. Acid Borac. 



The use of ordinary mosquito nets is of course impossible, 

 as the flies are able to creep through the meshes, but spraying 

 the net with a i per cent, solution of formol, or some other 

 repellent, is said to be effective in keeping away these pests. 

 By employing a screen of chiffon or some similar material, 

 it is possible to exclude the flies altogether, but such a method 

 is quite impracticable on warm nights, when the Phlebotomus 

 are especially abundant. A brightly burning lamp appears to 

 attract the flies more than a sleeping human being and is very 

 useful in the absence of a net or punkah. As they are very 

 sensitive to wind, the use of electric fans in rooms would pro- 

 bably succeed in keeping them away and some such method 

 might well be adopted in the case of patients suffering from 

 Pappataci Fever, for by the careful isolation of all persons 

 suffering from the complaint, the number of cases would be 

 reduced. As the flies seem to avoid the upper stories of houses 

 it might be advisable to keep patients suffering from the disease 

 in upper bedrooms. 



By preventing the flies from feeding on the blood of infected 

 persons it is even possible that the disease might be eradicated, 

 and this is the only method that seems practicable at the pre- 

 sent time. 



REFERENCES TO LITERATURE ON PHLEBOTOMUS 

 AND PAPPATACI FEVER. 



Annandale, N. (1910). The Indian Species of Papataci Fly (Phle- 

 botomus). Rec. Ind. Mus. vol. iv. pp. 35-52. With 3 plates. 



Birt, C. (1910). Phlebotomus fever in Malta and Crete. Journ. 

 R.A.M.C. vol. xiv. pp. 142-159 and 236-258. 



- (1910). Sand-fly fever in India. Journ. R.A.M.C. vol. xv. 

 pp. 140-147. 



