PREFACE 



THE Handbook of Medical Entomology is the outgrowth of a 

 course of lectures along the lines of insect transmission and 

 dissemination of diseases of man given by the senior author 

 In the Department of Entomology of Cornell University during the 

 past six years. More specifically it is an illustrated revision and 

 elaboration of his "Notes on the Relation of Insects to Disease" 

 published January, 191 2. 



Its object is to afford a general survey of the field, and primarily 

 to put the student of medicine and entomology in touch with the 

 discoveries and theories which underlie some of the most important 

 modem "work in preventive medicine. At the same time the older 

 phases of the subject — the consideration of poisonous and parasitic 

 forms — ^have not been ignored. 



Considering the rapid shifts in viewpoint, and the development 

 of the subject within recent years, the authors do not indulge in any 

 hopes that the present text will exactly meet the needs of every 

 one specializing in the field, — still less do they regard it as complete 

 or final. The fact that the enormous literattu-e of isolated articles is 

 to be found principally in foreign periodicals and is therefore difficult 

 of access to many American workers, has led the authors to hope 

 that a summary of the important advances, in the form of a reference 

 book may not prove unwelcome to physicians, sanitarians and 

 working entomologists, and to teachers as a text supplementing 

 lecture work in the subject. 



Lengthy as is the bibliography, it covers but a very small fraction 

 of the important contributions to the subject. It will serve only to 

 put those interested in touch with original sources and to open up 

 the field. Of the more general works, special acknowledgment 

 should be made to those of Banks, Brumpt, Castellani and Chalmers, 

 Comstock, Hewitt, Howard, Manson, Mense, Neveau-Lemaire, 

 Nuttall, and Stiles. 



To the many who have aided the authors in the years past, by 

 suggestions and by sending specimens and other materials, sincerest 

 thanks is tendered. This is especially due to their colleagues in 

 the Department of Entomology of Cornell University, and to Pro- 

 fessor Charles W. Howard, Dr. John Uri Lloyd, Mr. A. H. Ritchie, 

 Dr. I. M. Unger, and Dr. Luzerne Coville. 



