ENTOMOLOGY

410 SANITARY ENTOMOLOGYthe site of the tick's bite. 'In some cases which have been reported thetick was not removed and in these the paralysis progressively involvedthe whole body until reflexes and control of the sphincters were lost anddeath ensued. Abscesses following a tick bite are probably due to thehead of the tick remaining in the wound. The symptoms suggest infantileparalysis but they may be distinguished from cases of that diseaseby the invariably transitory nature of the paralysis. The tick paralysisnever leaves permanent disability. Various doctors practicing in theNorthwest have dellcribed cases, some of which have been fatal. In caseof paralysis it is always w~ll to make a thorough search of the body, especiallyin the vicinity of the spinal column, for the ticks. They are quitecommonly found in the hair at the base of the· head. The exact causeof the paralysis is unknown, but it is believed'that it is caused either bythe injection of a specific poison into the body by the tick, or by thereactions which take place, forming poisons during the presence of thetick's head in the body. The only treatment necessary is the removal ofthe tick by excision in order to make sure that the mouth parts areremoved, and the dressing of the wound antiseptically. Purgatives andstimulants should be given. Dermacentor andersoni also causes a paralysisof animals similar to that in man; in the case of sheep the effect on thebody is a loss of balance, causing the sheep to fall in places from whichthey cannot extricate themselves. H the tick is removed in time theanimal will recover.South African TICK P ARAL YSIS in animals is caused by the biteof [:codes pilosus Koch which attacks sheep principally. The effect ofthis paralysis is to cause the sheep to become very unsteady on theirfeet and to lie down frequently. They seem to recover rather rapidly,death being usually caused by their ,becoming prostrated in the open wherethey fall victims of jackals. There are no fever reactions. Dippingwith Cooper's Dip is considered a very effective control measure.HUMAN TICK BITE FEVER of Louren~o l\brqueg is' causedprincipally by the larva of Amblyomma hebraeum Koch but occasionallyby Rhipicephalus simus Koch and Boophilus annulatus (Say) Stiles andHassell 3 and B. annulatus (decoloratus Koch). The patient at firstcomplains of general weakness, muscular pains and especially of considerabledifficulty in moving his arms and legs. The glands in the neckbecome swollen in a short time, those situated in the naye of the neckI Mr. Bishopp writes that he prefers Margaropus to Boophilus for this tick and itsallies. My reasons for adopting Margaropus are as follows:1. Margaropus Karsch and Boophilus Curtice are considered by Nuttall, Warburton,Cooper, and Robinson (1911) to be two distinct genera. The type of theformer is designated by them as Margarop1lB winthemi Karsch, and of the latterBoophilllB annula.t1lB (Say) Curtice.II. Boophil1lB annulatm is a name well established in medical literature. (W. D.Pierce.)