– Besides the measures indicated above, aqua ammonia', which reduces the suffering if applied with a little rag and left in situ a few moments, often proves useful. Menthol sometimes affords considerable relief, the crystalline solid or camphoraceous substance being rubbed over the surface.
To prevent the development of mos quitoes in pools, permanganate of potas sium has been recommended. Two and one-half hours are required for a mos quito to develop from its first stage to its active and venomous maturity. The insect in all its phases may be instantly killed by contact with minute quantities of permanganate of potassium. One part of this substance in fifteen hundred of solution distributed in mosquito marshes will render the development of larvae im possible; a handful of permanganate will oxidize a ten-acre swamp, kill its em bryo insects, and keep it free from or ganic matter for thirty days. An effi cacious method is to scatter a few crystals widely apart. A single pinch of potas sium permanganate has killed all the germs in a thousand-gallon tank.
In foul, mosquito-breeding pools, the water of which cannot be used, the mos quitoes infesting it, their larva?, and nymphm can be easily overcome by pour ing into each sheet of water a quantity ranging from a few ounces to a pint of petroleum.
Bee-, Wasp-, and Hornet- Stings.—The sting of a bee is barbed at the end, and is, consequently, always left in the wound; that of a wasp is pointed only, so that they can sting more than once. Swelling comes on very rapidly and spreads very quickly. The hornet's sting is the most severe, and the bee's the least.
The wasp, an insect allied to the hornet, is capable of stinging severely also.
The pain of the stings of venomous in sects like the bee depends less upon the introduction of the sting into the part than upon that of the venomous fluid. Experiments tend to prove that when the little poison-bag, situated at the base of the sting, has been cut off, a wound with the sting produces no pain. The poison flows from the vesicle through the sting at the instant when this passes into the flesh.
Several stings may cause serious con stitutional disturbance. Under sue])
eireumstances a stimulant will be first required, after which the sting or stings should be removed with a fine-pointed forceps, or, if they are too deep to be laid hold of, the hollow tube of a small key may be placed over the injured part, so that the puncture shall be in the middle, and by pressing it firmly down the skin be caused to rise in the hollow, when the sting will probably start out, or a watery fluid will escape, carrying with it some of the venom. If a lens is at hand, it will be well to ex amine eaeh wound, when perhaps the sting may be seen, and it may be ex tracted with the forceps.
In the treatment of bee-sting ipeeae uanha powder made into a paste and smeared over the parts affeeted prevents, to a large extent, the swelling and pain. George King 1Indian Med. Gaz.; Pract., July, '96).
The immunity of bee-keepers from the effects of bee-poison studied. One hun dred and twenty-four bee-keepers were immune, 9 of them being naturally so to the sting of bees: 26 eould not ae quire immunity. The number of bee stings to produce immunity varied con siderably, sometimes 30 being sufficient. but in many eases as many as 100 were necessary. The most favorite means of dealing with bee-stings is spirit of am monia. A 5-per-cent. solution of per manganate of potash will counteract the poison, and an injection of a 2- to 5-per cent. solution is recommended. Langer (Scalpel, May. '9S).
Wood-tick (Ixodes). — Blood-sucking ticks of various kinds are common in most countries. In the tropics the so called Carapala is that most frequently met with. They bury the whole head in the flesh, and distend their bodies with blood ere they arc discovered, and any ordinary attempt at removal only de taches the latter, leaving the head be hind to create trouble.
The head should be removed with needle or knife, and the wound subse quently dressed antiseptically. Turpen tine applied to the rear end of the insect sometimes causes it to loosen its hold. Any essential oil, or a drop of chloroform injected with an hypodermic syringe, frequently brings about the same result.