1038 SOCIÉTÉ DE BIOLOGIE 



mown down armies and populations on tlie Oriental fronts as well as in 

 prison camps in Germany. Even if thèse diseases are scarce on the 

 French front the louse lias, however, played an important pari which is 

 being shown by the works of the English and American Commissions 

 by showing the part taken by thèse ectoparasites in the transmission of 

 trench fever (Volhynia or Meuse fever as the Germans call it). The 

 virus, which is yet undetermined, drawn from the blood by Ihe louse 

 undergoes a certain évolution in the insect which never becomes 

 infective before 5 days. As a rule, the louse can not, suchas in typhus, 

 inoculate the disease by biting ; contrary to what happens in relapsing 

 fever the excréta contain the virus which pénétrâtes into man 

 through the excoriations of the skin (can it not go through healthy 

 skin?). The nature of this virus still needs détermination: Rickettsia 

 according to Rocha-Lima, such as in typhus fever; but why a différence 

 in inoculation? — Spirochete (Gouvy and Dujarric) ; then would it be 

 more résistant than that of récurrent fever, etc.? 



On the olher h;ind the importance of trench fever on the French front 

 must be specified, its extensions away from the front must be deter- 

 niined. Should we make a report on the spirocheto^e observed at 

 Lorient by Manine and Cristau, and the cases mentioned in Paris by 

 Net ter? 



Therefore, continuation and intensification of the struggle against 

 the louse which has become more gênerai since the beginning of the 

 war. Collective disinfeclion by delousing of clothes and [linen, indi- 

 vidual by Ihe use of ànti-lice substances. Struggle as well against the 

 head louse as body louse, for bolh, even ifone admits that they differ 

 specifically (very doubtful conception), seem to be capable of the same 

 mischiefs. 



to be usurped by the louse. From being an objecl of fear and conterapt, 

 the mère mention of whose name was looked upon as a deadly sin, the louse 

 is now an object of interested curiosi-ty in the best society. " Trans. Soc. of 

 Trop. Med. a Uy;/., t. XI, p. 98.3.) 



[Translàied by Ihe Deparlment a f Médical Research and Intelligence 

 of the American Red Cross.) 



