AGENTS OF DISEASE 291 



proboscis and body with the bacteria swarming 

 in such situations, is a ready carrier of disease. 

 It is a blood-sucking fly, and is therefore 

 particularly dangerous to man in its adult stage. 

 In tropical countries it is one of the recognized 

 transmitting agents of trypanosomiasis. 



Such is a brief description of some of the 

 principal insects known at present as trans- 

 mitting agents of disease. Much still remains 

 to be discovered in this new aspect of insect life, 

 and it is within the power of all careful observers 

 to help in building up such knowledge. Brief as 

 this description of our insect foes as transmitting 

 agents of disease is, I hope that it will suffice to 

 arouse the interest of my readers, and demon- 

 strate of what vital importance to mankind the 

 biological study of insect life has become ; as 

 it is certain that the future health, and therefore 

 success, of our Empire is in a great measure 

 intimately associated with it. 



