68 



Parasitic Arthropods 



There are many other records of various species of ticks attacking 

 man, but the above-mentioned will serve as typical and it is not neces- 

 sary to enter into greater detail. 



Treatment of Tick Bites— When a tick attaches to man the first 

 thing to be done is to remove it without leaving the hypostome in the 

 wound to fester and bring about secondary effects. This is best 

 accomplished by applying to the tick's body some substance which 

 will cause it to more readily loosen its hold. Gasoline or petroleum, 



oil or vaseline will serve. 

 For removing the 

 spinose ear-tick. Stiles 

 recommends pouring 

 some bland oil into the 

 ear. Others have used 

 effectively a pledget of 

 cotton soaked in chloro- 

 form. 



In general, the treat- 

 ment recommended by 

 Wellman for the bites 

 of Ornithodoros moubata 

 will prove helpful. It 

 consists of prolonged 

 bathing in very hot 

 water, followed by the 

 application of a strong 

 solution of bicarbonate 

 of soda, which is allowed to dry upon the skin. He states that this 

 treatment is comforting. For severe itching he advises smearing 

 the bites with vaseline, which is slightly impregnated with camphor 

 or menthol. Medical aid should be sought when complications arise. 

 The Dermanyssidae are Gamasid mites which differ from others of 

 the group in that they are parasitic on vertebrates. None of the 

 species normally attack man, but certain of them, especially the 

 poultry mite, may be accidental annoyances. 



Dermanyssus gallincB (fig. 51), the red mite of poultry, is an exceed- 

 ingly common and widespread parasite of fowls. During the day 

 it lives in cracks and crevices of poultry houses, under supports of 

 roosts, and in litter of the food and nests, coming out at night to feed. 



Dermanyssus gallinae, female. After Delafond. 



