354 



THE ANIMAL PARASITES OF MAN 



AKAMUSHI OR KEDANI. 



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, JKedani). 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, 



FIG. 230. The Kedani Mite (enlarged). (After Tanaka.) 



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, &c., a papule, surrounded by a red area 

 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 



