466 SANITARY ENTOMOLOGY 



Castellani and Chalmers recommended for centipede bites the bathing 

 of the parts with a solution of ammonia (1 in 5, or 1 in 10). After bath- 

 ing apply a dressing of the same alkali, or if there is much swelling and 

 redness, an ice bag. If necessary give hypodermic injections of morphia 

 to relieve the pain. 



CENTIPEDES IN NASAL CAVITIES AND ALIMENTARY CANAL 



There are in literature quite a number of references to the occur- 

 rence of small centipedes in the nasal cavities and in the alimentary canal. 

 In the nasal cavities they have been charged with causing considerable 

 inflammation and in the alimentary canal have caused pain, cramps, and 

 nausea. Very little is known of the cause of this attack but presumably 

 it is more or less accidental, probably when the person is asleep out of 

 doors. The following species have been recorded from the nasal cavities : 

 Geophilus carpophagus Leach, G. electricus Linnaeus, G. cephalicus 

 Wood, G. similis Leach, Lithobius forficatus Linnaeus, L. melanops New- 

 port, Scutigera coleoptrata Linnaeus, CTiaetechelyne vesuviana Newport, 

 Polydesmus complanatus Latreille, Ivlus terrestris Linnaeus, /. londi/nen- 

 sis Leach, Himantarium gervaisi, Stigmatogaster subterraneus (Leach). 

 There is no evidence that these parasites cause any inflammation by their 

 venom. They are generally expelled from the nose in attacks of sneez- 

 ing or spontaneously. The best method of making them leave the nos- 

 trils is the use of snufF, Eau de cologne, or turpentine, but in some 

 instances surgical operations are necessary. 



This subject has been more fully treated by Blanchard in vols. 1 to 

 '6 and 14 of the Archives de Parasitologic. 



LEPIDOPTEKOUS LARV^ POISONING 



It is not uncommon for persons to be more or less badly poisoned by 

 the barbed hairs of lepidopterous larvse. In some cases these hairs contain 

 minute drops of poison. The most famous poisoning of this kind is known 

 as "BROWNTAIL RASH" which, when it attacks the eyes, is called 

 OPHTHALMIA NODOSA. This is caused by the browntail moth 

 Euproctis chrysorrhoea Linnaeus. There have been numerous cases of 

 browntail rash in New England. The stinging hairs sometimes pene- 

 trate into the lungs, as well as entering the eyes. This is most likely to 

 happen at the time the caterpillars are molting and the air is filled 

 with hairs. Entomologists working in laboratories where this species is 

 being studied have suffered considerably from this poisoning. The larva is 

 provided with four rows of setigerous tubercles which bear barbed hairs, 

 larger at the apex than at the base. These hairs are connected with 



