SOME NOTES ON LEPROSY IX HAVANA. 119 



is good also for leprosy. However, this man refused to have any- 

 thing to do with the matter. 



My contention was not that the rats had leprosy, nor thai the fleas 

 could carry it — though, as I have stated elsewhere. I should dislike 

 to have a flea bite a leprous blotch and then turn its attention to me — 

 but that the whole matter was one crying urgently for investigation 

 and that the hospital in its present condition, within the city and 

 open to visitors and rats and mosquitoes and flies, was a possible 

 menace to the whole community. I told the authorities that they 

 might easily undertake a piece of investigation there that would 

 attract the attention of the whole scientific world and contribute 

 much to scientific knowledge of these matters. But my efforts were 

 sterile so far as exciting any further efforts toward investigation was 

 concerned. Yet not wholly without results either, since somewhat 

 later the junta of the patrones of this hospital, without further facts 

 than those I had brought otit, passed a resolution in which they state 

 it as their belief that it is possible that leprosy may be communicated 

 by flea bites. The matter Avas brought to the attention of the presi- 

 dent, and he took steps toward the removal of the hospital. The 

 matter was again laid before the Provisional Governor after his 

 arrival, and it seems now as if the hospital might really be removed 

 from the city at an early date. 



If any insects are really concerned in the transmission of leprosy or 

 bubonic plague, I consider that they are more likely to be fleas than 

 either mosquitoes or flies, since the affected areas are usually kept 

 covered. The great length of the usual period of incubation of leprosy 

 and the lengthened course of the disease make direct observation and 

 evidence very difficult in any case. In the meantime I believe that it 

 would be by far the wisest course to rigidly exclude from leper hos- 

 pitals like the San Lazaro in Havana all rats. cats. dogs, fleas, mos- 

 quitoes, and flies. This would not be a difficult matter to accomplish. 



ON THE ERADICATION OF THE BLACK-CURRANT GALL-MITE. 



(Eriophyes ribis Nalepa.) 



By Walteb E. Collinge, M. Sc, F. E. S.. Birmingham, England. 



For upward of thirty-five years black-currant grower- in the 

 United Kingdom have waged war against a small nnte of the genus 



DBS r* 



Eriophyes, but with little or no avail. 



Its rapid increase toward the close of the past century, which 

 threatened the successful cultivation of black currants in this country, 

 led me in 1899 to institute a careful investigation into the life history 

 and preventive and remedial measures, which investigation has been 

 continued up to tlu i present time 1 with excellent results, 



oRepts. on in.i. inserts for 1904 and for 1905. 



