INSECT-BITES IQ7 



These are of most importance as carriers of disease, 

 either protozoal or verminous parasites, but also cause 

 local irritation at and around the points where the punc- 

 ture occurs. In newcomers this irritation may be severe, 

 but after a time the effect produced is trivial. A degree 

 of immunity is acquired. Even with newcomers the 

 irritation soon passes off unless friction is employed ; if 

 the spots are rubbed the swelling and irritation increase, 

 and is more persistent. 



In certain places, particularly around the ankles and 

 wrists, where bites are frequent, it is not uncommon to 

 find that small abrasions which may lead to definite 

 ulcers are produced. With some of the ticks and larval 

 acarines, e.g., " bete rouge," and other larval forms of 

 Trombidiidae, small local gangrenous patches are produced 

 in some people. 



The local application of strong ammonia, liq, ammon. 

 fort., usually diminishes the irritation. Care must be taken 

 not to rub the affected parts. This is more easily avoided 

 if by the free use of pungent essential oils oil of lavender 

 and pennyroyal are the best fresh bites in the neighbour- 

 hood of the old ones are prevented. 



Suitable clothing is important, high " mosquito " boots 

 give much protection, whilst hard, rough clothing such as 

 some of the " cellular " underclothing should be avoided, 

 as though cool and comfortable, friction with such sub- 

 stances readily produces a breach of the surface of the 

 skin. 



Prevention by the use of mosquito-proof rooms, nets 

 and clothing should be adopted where possible. JEven 

 the colour of the clothing is of importance ; black or 

 dark stockings should not be worn by ladies, and low 

 evening dresses are not advisable where mosquitoes are 

 troublesome, though where good punkahs are used in 

 well-lighted rooms the inconvenience is much reduced. 

 Any powerful-smelling essential oil will for a time prevent 

 attack, but only on and around the region of the skin or 

 article of clothing to which it is applied. To many 



