AKAMUSHI OR KEDANI 



Akamushi or Kedani. 



4 8 7 



In a few districts of Japan there occurs a serious illness, with 

 a mortality of 40 to 70 per cent. It is called river or flood 

 fever, and the Japanese doctors have connected it with a small 

 mite (akamushi, kedani). Baelz has opposed this opinion on the 

 grounds that he has repeatedly observed the same species of mite 

 in his dwelling without any subsequent illness occurring. Accord- 

 ing to Keisuke Tanaka, however, a connection certainly does exist, 

 inasmuch as the akamushi, like Leptus, attacks persons to suck 

 blood. If the mite is not removed, or if the spot attacked is 

 injured by scratching, etc., a papule surrounded by a red area 



FIG. 351. The kedani mite. Enlarged. (After Tanaka.) 



forms, and a pustule ensues ; and finally a black scab covers the 

 seat of injury. The lesion becomes the point of entrance of bacteria, 

 especially a species of proteus which produces river fever. If the 

 mites are carefully removed no general illness takes place. 



The orange-red mites, which we only know in their larval 

 condition, measure 0*16 to 0*38 mm. in length by o'io to 0*24 mm. 

 in breadth. They have leg-like palpi with three joints, hirsute 

 bodies, and very hairy legs composed of five segments, terminating 

 with three ungues. 



