W. S. Patton 
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Row’s figures and are therefore unable to express a definite opinion on 
his results. Here again we believe it very probable that the parasite 
of Delhi boil may eventually prove to be quite distinct from the parasite 
of Algerian Oriental Sore. Unfortunately nothing is yet known as to 
how these parasites are transmitted from man to man ; as the diseases 
they produce are benign they offer an excellent opportunity for this line 
of investigation ; without doubt the solution of this problem would help 
to a better understanding of the methods by which the more dangerous 
parasites are transmitted. 
Quite recently Schneider (1909) has brought forward an interesting 
observation, which suggests that the parasite of Persian Oriental Sore 
may be transmitted by the bed bug (species not named, but almost 
certainly G. rotundatus): 
A European lady, who lived for some time at Zerguendeb, a village 
close to Teheran, stated that she awaked one night with the sensation 
of something biting her on the cheek; putting up her hand to feel what 
it was, she caught a bug. A little later a large sore developed on the 
spot where the bug had bitten her. Schneider states that in the same 
house there were four children, who had the sore the preceding year, 
and that the house was infested with bugs. Schneider however does not 
state that the characteristic parasite was recovered from the sores. 
Laveran (1909) and others have suggested that the domestic fly is the 
most probable transmitter of this parasite because the sores usually occur 
on uncovered parts such as the face, hands and arms. This however is 
most improbable for the simple reason that it would be impossible for 
the fly to obtain the parasites, as they do not occur at the sui'faces of 
these sores; it is well known that these parasites cannot live in the 
presence of septic organisms. H. tropica can only be transmitted by a 
blood-sucking insect which must obtain it from the peripheral blood. 
It is not true that bed bugs only bite covered parts of the body, for from 
a large experience of the habits of this insect we know that it chiefly 
bites uncovered parts of the body. We have visited a large number of 
native houses in Madras, and found that the majority of the occupants 
sleep on the floor, either in a room or in rows along the verandahs. The 
parts of their bodies that are uncovered are their legs, arms, head and neck 
and often the whole chest if the weather is very warm. In every house 
C. rotundatus will be found in large numbers in crevices in the walls, doors, 
chairs, beds and mats; and during the night they come out and attack the 
uncovered parts of the sleepers, biting chiefly round the neck, also the 
face, hands, feet and ankles. We have no doubt that these conditions 
Parasitology ii 
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