SUPPLEMENT 713 



beneath when the rubbing is done thoroughly, and the burning sen- 

 sation caused by the ether only lasts a few minutes. 



Cimex (Acanthia) lectularia 1 (Cimex lectularius) (Bed Bug). 



The puncture in the skin made by the bed bug gives rise to an 

 extraordinary amount of severe itching and a burning sensation, and 

 when the skin is sensitive wheals of remarkable size (urticaria ex 

 cimicibus). These eruptions that cause such severe itching are 

 scratched by those attacked, till very soon blood begins to flow, and 

 this generally leads to the formation of a dried crust of blood at the 

 point of eruption. 



The diagnosis is not always easy, as urticaria arising in other ways 

 frequently leads to similar vigorous scratching and formation of crusts 

 of dried blood. Men who have some experience in this matter (for 

 example, commercial travellers), when they are attacked by severe 

 itching at night, are in the habit of striking a light and searching in 

 their bed and body-linen for the bugs, in order to be able to hand 

 over the corpora delicti to the landlord if need be. The assumption 

 that the bugs in the East play an actual part in the propagation of 

 tuberculosis and bubonic plague has been proved by investigations 

 made by Nuttall 2 to be at least very exaggerated if not wholly without 

 foundation. Further investigations may decide how far the bugs 

 participate in the transmission of kala-azar, as is believed by Rogers 

 to take place. 



The bed bugs must be exterminated by spraying the chinks and 

 joints in the boards with petroleum and benzine, pulling up the 

 carpets and cleansing the bedsteads. For the treatment of the bite 

 itself the methods recommended as an antidote against insects' stings 

 in general are suitable : 2 per cent, carbol vaseline (Rosen bach 3 ), 

 thymol dissolved in spirit (i in 50^), aethrol or deci-aethrol, form- 

 cethrol (manufactured by Dr. Nordlinger, Florsheim a. /M.), formol 5 

 (formol 15 parts, xylol 5 parts, acetone 44 parts, Canada balsam i part), 

 with the aid of a pad of wadding placed over the part bitten, lavages 

 with vinegar, citron juice and spirit of salmiac. 



1 Vide genus Cimex, p. 534. 



' 2 Nuttall, see Sack " Handb.," v. Mracek, p. 290. 



8 Rosenbach, Therap. Monatsh., 1903. 



4 Leipzig, med. Monatsh., 1907, vi. 



r > Chemist and Druggist, August 25, 1906. 



