68 THE REPORT OF THE No. 33 



Formerly it was thought that this loss of condition was due to the small 

 traumata resulting from the activities of lice while feeding, or the minute injuries 

 produced by the sharp claws with which the feet of all these parasites are fur- 

 nished; but experimental work conducted by Moore, of the Division of Entom- 

 ology, University of Minnesota, throws a new light upon the subject. 



In a paper which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Associa- 

 tion, Vol. 2, 1918, he describes an interesting reaction to louse bites where symp- 

 toms similar to trench fever were observed. May I be permitted to quote the 

 following from this very interesting communication? 



"Whereas, Miss Wentz had started feeding with a small number of lice which gradually 

 increased, I started feeding about 700 to 800 twice a day. Almost immediately a general tired 

 feeling was noticed in the calf of the legs and along the shin bones, while on the soles of the feet 

 and underneath the toes this tired feeling was so intense as often to prevent sleep until late in 

 the night. An irritable and pessimistic state of mind developed. May 7th, an illness resulted 

 with symptoms very similar to grip, and a rash similar to German measles was present, particu- 

 larly over the shoulders and abdomen. As German measles were prevalent in the community 

 at that time, it was considered German measles; and after remaining in bed for several days I 

 returned to work and again took up the feeding of the lice. The general feeling previously 

 noted was present with increasing intensity. By May 15th, the number of lice in our reserve 

 stock had increased to about 1,200, and May 28th, I was again forced to remain in bed. The 

 family physician was called and diagnosed the case as possibly grip. The next day he was again 

 called since a distinct rash was present all over the body. The rash was considered quite typical 

 of German measles, but other symptoms of measles were absent. The heart was normal, the 

 pulse about 90, and the temperature varied from 100 to 102. A blood count revealed a normal 

 number of leukocytes and red corpuscles. A severe headache was experienced, accompanied with 

 pains in the legs, not only along the shins but also in the calves of the legs and the soles of the 

 feet, while intense pain was present in all the joints of the body. The appetite was lost for several 

 days, and the tongue was heavily coated. Dr. A- D. Hirschfelder, who has been assisting on the 

 louse problem, saw me at this time and considered that it was not German measles, nor was it 

 grip, but might be trench fever. Glandular enlargement was absent and no enlargement of the 

 spleen was noted. Recovery was complete except for a general weak condition by June 4th. 



"I again took up the feeding of the lice, June 6th, with the hope of producing the symptoms 

 again and deciding if the illness was really caused by the lice, and, if possible, whether it was 

 trench fever. The lice numbered about 800 adults, which gradually died off while young lice 

 hatched from the eggs until by June 22nd about 1,800 young lice were being fed. During the 

 early period between June 6th and 15th, no lassitude was noticed, but from about the 17th on, 

 it gradually returned as the number of lice increased, until the 27th and 28th when it was pro- 

 nounced. On the 29th I was feeling so miserable that it was a decided effort to get up in the 

 morning and again feed the lice. The symptoms were the same as in the two previous illnesses. 

 If the illness was due to the organism of trench fever, a day or two spent in the open with plenty 

 of exercise would hardly prevent the attack, but if it was due to a toxin or toxins, it might be 

 possible, by plenty of fresh air and exercise, to throw off the toxins and escape the attack; hence 

 the 29th and 30th were spent in the open, rowing and fishing. During the 29th the symptoms 

 were still quite pronounced, but gradually disappeared on the 30th, although a general tired feeling 

 persisted for several days. Since that time the lice have not been fed, and two weeks in July 

 were spent on a vacation in the open. The result has been the total disappearance of the peculiar 

 tired feeling in the legs and feet and a return to perfectly normal health." 



The foregoing is suggestive that the clothes louse, if present in large numbers, 

 may produce an illness, which appears to be an intoxication of the system, with 

 some toxin that they are capable of introducing at the time of feeding. It is also 

 suggestive that some of the symptoms of trench fever encountered in certain 

 cases may not be due to the organism of trench fever but to certain toxins intro- 

 duced by the lice. 



Without entering into a classification of the Anoplura in which four families 

 including fifteen genera are recognized, they may be regarded as falling into two 

 orders, Siphunculata, Sucking Lice and Mallophaga, Biting Lice. 



While most mammals may harbour both varieties, the biting lice appear 

 to be less, harmful to the host, owing to their methods of feeding on epidermal 

 scales and products of exfoliation, instead of puncturing the skin for the sus- 

 taining blood and lymph. 



