ARTHROPODA 675 



On account of the myriads of flies about our houses and their habit of 

 resting preferably upon food where they deposit their eggs and on account of 

 the great production of fly larvaa in water, it is quite remarlvable that larva 

 of flies do not more frequently reach the gastro-intestinal canal of man. There 

 are many avenues by which the larvae of the anthomyia varieties which de- 

 posit their ova in salad, radishes, berries, etc., may reach the intestinal canal. 

 Many of the larvs are destroyed in the digestive tract, or do not find the condi- 

 tions suitable for their existence, but they generally possess such extraordinary 

 resistance as to be able to withstand the digestive process. 



There is no specific symptomatology. In the history of these patients 

 complaints of nausea, tendency to vomit, vomiting, sour eructations, more or 

 less severe pain in the epigastrium, and attacks of colic may appear. At one 

 time there is constipation, at another time diarrhea, with or without blood. 

 Severe spasmodic attacks, cramps, sensations of fear are observed, which cease 

 at once when the larvse are passed. There are no sequels, however, as the ex- 

 istence of the parasite is so brief. The larvse are voided per anum with the 

 stools or by the mouth in vomitus; sometimes more than one hundred larvae 

 are discharged. 



As soon as the discharge of larvae has been recognized, an attempt should 

 be made by therapeutic measures to effect the speedy removal of the parasite. 

 If the larvaa are still present chiefly in the stomach, they may be removed 

 by lavage. In naphtholin (0.5-1.0 in single doses, up to 5.0 as a daily dose 

 for adults) we no doubt possess a remedy which causes the death of the larvse, 

 that is, brings about their rapid removal. 



Besides those mentioned, there are a number of other insects which are " oc- 

 casional " parasites of man. I need mention here only the different varieties 

 of flies, mosquitoes, wasps, bees, hornets, etc., which occasionally attack man, 

 and by their sting cause marked pain. G. Braun has lately reported the bite of 

 poisonous spiders (Latodectus lagubris) which may bring about serious symp- 

 toms. The bite of the tarantula is harmless, but that of scorpions causes 

 severe inflammatory cutaneous symptoms. In conclusion, it must be men- 

 tioned that various caterpillars supplied with hairs containing retroserrates 

 and spinules may cause severe irritative phenomena upon the skin, the con- 

 nective tissue, the corium and iris. Gray or grayish yellow nodules the size 

 of a lentil, being round or oval, form in the iris and subconjunctival cellular 

 tissue. Laudon mentions that in girls inflammation of the sexual apparatus, 

 swelling of the labia and leukorrhea may be caused by the hairs of caterpillars, 

 and also that the toxic substances contained in the cavities of the hairs of 

 caterpillars may, by penetrating or tearing the human skin, produce severe 

 irritative phenomena. 



For the relief of the bites or stings of insects, painting with sal am- 

 moniac, ichthyol, or ichthyol salve or the application of ichthyol plaster, is 

 advised. 



The severe affections of the eye produced by the hairs of caterpillars re- 

 quire the extraction of the hairs which have entered; in iritis, atropin and 

 warm compresses. Unfortunately, the prognosis is not favorable. ^ The cuta- 

 neous irritation may be lessened by vaselin or inunctions with lanolin. 



