LEPROSY 179 



lure. The larvcB are active, white, hairy maggots with a head and 

 thirteen segments, the last carrying a pair of hooks. They eat organic 

 matter from dust, and spin a cocoon in two weeks or longer, in which 

 they pupate. 



The cocoon coated with dust contains a hump-backed pupa which 

 can develop in two weeks. 



There are two main families : — 



Pulicidce, which contains Pulex irritans, the common human flea, 

 and Xenopsylla cheopis, the tropical rat flea. 



SarcopsyllidcB, which contain the Dermatophilus penetrans or jigger. 



Indigenous to South America, but carried to the Gold Coast, East 

 Africa, and Bombay. 



It flourishes best in sandy places. It attacks man and other 

 animals, including the pig. Both sexes suck blood, but the pregnant 

 female embeds herself in the skin, often under the bed of a toe-nail, 

 and in this inflamed pocket lays her eggs. Pain and inflammation 

 result, leading to indolent ulceration and even gangrene. 



TO DESTROY FLEAS. 



Close the room, spray completely with 5 per cent, solution of 

 formalin, or sprinkle copiously with powdered naphthalin, and leave 

 closed for two days. 



Then burn all sweepings. Wash floor with formalin or lysol. 



Ants eat the larva5 and pup^e. 



For personal use, use quinine, quassia, sulphur, petroleum, which 

 are repellent to fleas. 



LEPROSY. 

 DEFINITION. 



A chronic infective disease caused by Hansen's bacillus, with 

 characteristic lesions of the skin, mucosae and nerves. 



HISTORY. 



Perhaps brought from Egypt to Italy by Pompey's troops, dis- 

 seminated throughout Europe by the Roman legions. The returning 

 Crusaders (1098) increased it. 



Lepers were isolated in Europe in the 13th century. Thev were 

 compelled to wear a special dress, to use clappers when on the roads, 

 and to point with a stick to articles in the market which they wished 

 to buy. They were forbidden to drink from the public fountains, or 

 eat with healthy people. They were officially dead, and the burial 

 service was read over them as soon as they were diagnosed as lepers. 

 Lepers gradually diminished from this time onwards. 



