206 Tick Parcihjsis 
disease, caused by ticks, may occur in British Columbia. The subject 
demands investigation.” 
The “ ticks ” referred to in Dr Todd’s paper are most probably 
D. venustus as this species is common in the districts he mentions. 
Nuttall (1911) in his notes on the biology of Ixodes, refers to Ixodes 
pilosns. 
I rpiote the following : 
‘‘‘Relation to Disease. According to C. W. Mally (ix 1901), Cape 
of Good Hope, the farmers around Carlisle Bridge have no doubt but 
that this tick produces ‘paralysis’ in sheep, especially in merinos.... 
The tick is, however, frequently found on healthy sheep.” 
Eaton (1913) reports a case of tick bite, followed by widespread 
transitory muscular paralysis, in a little girl. 
Briefly, the symptoms he describes are as follows: 
A little girl, four years of age, became restless and unsteady on her 
feet. She also lost her appetite. When she was undressed and put to 
bed a tick was found attached to the back of the right shoulder. The 
tick was probably an Ixodes (sp. ?). 
On the second day the child could not stand, and appeared very ill 
and in a state bordering on delirium (temperature 101‘4‘’ F.). The 
minscles of the lower limbs were motionless, the arm muscles could be 
moved, the knee jerks were absent. Over the lower part of the right 
scapula was a pink patch about the size of a penny, in the centre of 
which was a purplish-black spot a quarter-of-an-inch in diameter. In 
the middle of this was an aperture in which lay the head-parts of the 
tick (the body had been cut off) ; these were scraped out and the cavity 
cleansed with pure carbolic. 
On the third day there was no sign of return of voluntary movement 
in the legs, but the muscles were not so limp. On the fourth day the 
knee-jerks were obtainable but with difficulty ; the child could now 
stand and even walk a few steps with support. The pupils of the eyes 
were still inactive to light. Diarrhoea present from third day. On the 
fifth day the child could walk without support. 
Eaton quotes other cases noted by Cleland. Cleland refers to a 
statement of Bancroft’s that the bites of Queensland ticks (sp. ?) 
frequently kill dogs and cats. One attack is said to confer immunity. 
