NO. IO COCKROACHES—ROTH AND WILLIS 37 
Nephritis.—See discussion. 
Pericarditis —See discussion. The powdered, medicinal form of 
Blatta orientalis was sold in Europe as Pulvis Tarakanae as a remedy 
for pericarditis (Ealand, 1915). Weiss (1947) cited similar informa- 
tion. 
Peritonitis—See discussion. 
Pleurisy—See discussion. Same cited information as for peri- 
carditis (Ealand, 1915; Weiss, 1947). 
Scabbing.—Pliny (in Blanchard, 1837) recommended crushed 
“Blatta” as a cure. 
Scrofula.—Blanchard (1837) cited Pliny’s statement that the 
“Blatta’ with wings and feet cut off cured scrofula. 
Sting-ray injuries—Russell and Lewis (1956) list macerated cock- 
roaches as one of the substances that have been used in the treatment 
of sting-ray injuries. They also state that “certain aborigines perfused 
the wounds produced by venomous fishes with the extracts of macer- 
ated cockroaches and fish livers.” They suggest that the rather high 
concentrations of enzymes, coenzymes, and carriers related to the 
oxidative cycle within insect muscle might possibly influence changes 
provoked by a venom. 
Tetanus——Webster (1834) was told by Captain Owen that 
“. , . the infusion of cockroaches is useful in tetanus, and that his 
[Captain Owen’s] surgeon in the Eden, Dr. Birnie, had used it with 
beneficial effect.” Webster went on to state, however, that a Dr. Hall 
tried it at Maranham in a case of tetanus without beneficial results. 
This same usage is listed in ‘“Marquart’s Pharmaceutische Zoologie” 
(Geiger, 1839). Weiss (1925) cited the following item by Lafcadio 
Hearn in the New York Tribune, January 3, 1886: the Negroes in 
Louisiana used cockroach tea for tetanus, supplemented by a poultice 
of boiled cockroaches over the wound. 
Tuberculosis —See discussion. 
Tumors.—Pliny (in Blanchard, 1837) recommended crushed 
“Blatta” as a cure. 
Ulcers.—Pliny (in Blanchard, 1837) stated that “Blatta” is good 
for ulcers deemed incurable. Sloane (1725) stated that the Indians in 
Jamaica bruised cockroaches, mixed them with sugar, and applied the 
concoction to ulcers and cancers to cause them to suppurate. ““Merck’s 
1907 Index” lists the external use of Blatta orientalis for ulcers. 
Warts—External use of Blatta orientalis is listed in “Merck’s 
1907 Index.” 
Whooping cough—Webster (1834) stated that an infusion of 
cockroaches was used in Bermuda as an antispasmodic in whooping 
