The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - Volume s1-5, Issue 1, January 1925

In his introduction to the work of LePrince and Orenstein “Mosquito Control in Panama” (1), Dr. L. O. Howard writes:

The writer well remembers one morning when, before starting for Panama, General Gorgas and Mr. LePrince called on him at his office in Washington to talk about mosquitoes, and the confidence which they felt of accomplishing their gigantic task was inspiring. He asked General Gorgas to have specimens of all the Panama mosquitoes sent to him for naming, and the General said, “I will assign Mr. LePrince to see that it is done.” Upon which Mr. LePrince remarked, “I will have to do it soon, Doctor, for in a year or so there will be no mosquitoes there!”

This conversation must have taken place in 1904, the year that General (then Colonel) Gorgas began his work upon the Isthmus of Panama.

Since that day much history has been written and the world has moved at a rapidly accelerating pace.

• 1.  It is certain that mature Margaropus annulatus australis and Amblyoma cayenense can both be found attached to cattle and deer in Panama. No experiments have been made, with the last named type, by us.
• 2.  Hunting experience in and near the Canal Zone has afforded one of us an excellent opportunity to examine a relatively large number of white tailed deer (Odocoileus chiriquensis Allen) and these animals usually showed the presence of a scant number of piroplasma in some of the blood cells of the cortical capillaries of the brain (crushed brain cortex film) and in some instances the peripheral blood film showed the parasites. One deer suffering from a verminous broncho-pneumonia and liver fluke disease had an associated acute attack of piroplasmosis.
• 3.  In one instance, the progeny of ticks removed from this sick deer were capable of producing a mild attack of piroplasmosis in a half-breed, non-immune calf. The ticks in question were Margaropus annulatus australis.
• 4.  In another instance, a mild attack of piroplasmosis was produced in a brocket deer (Mazama sartorii reperticia Goldman) by biting the animal in a massive manner with the progeny of Margaropus annulatus australis taken from prime beef cattle at the time these animals were slaughtered in Panama City.
• 5.  Probably cervine and bovine piroplasma are identical. If not, then the tick Margaropus annulatus australis is capable of being a carrier agent for two types of piroplasma and the tick uses the deer as well as cattle for a host.
• 6.  The practical value of these experiments is the indication that the deer makes an important reservoir for cattle piroplasmosis.

• 1.  Es un hecho probado que las garrapatas pertenecientes a los tipos Margaropus annulatus anstrales y Amblyoma cayenense, de forma adulta, se encuentran en el ganado y los ciervos de Panama. No hemos hecho ningunos experimentos con el segundo de los tipos mencionados.
• 2.  Las cacerias llevadas a cabo en la Zona del Canal y en sus cercanías nos brindó una oportunidad excelente para examinar un número relativamente grande de ciervos de cola blanca (Odeocoileus chiriquensis Allen) los cuales generalmente demostraron la presencia de un muméro pequeño de piroplasmas en algunas de las células sanguineas de los capilares corticales de cerebro (frote hecho de la corteza de cerebro triturado) y en muchas ocasiones se observaron los parásitos en los frotes hechos de la sangre periférica. En uno do los ciervos que estaba atacado de una bronco-pneumonia verminosa y de una afeccion del higado del mismo caracter, se le cecontró que tambien tenia un ataque agudo de piroplasmosis.
• 3.  En una ocasion la progenie de garrapatas que se obtuvieron de este ciervo enfermo produjo un ataque leve de piroplasmosis en un ternero mestizo y sin inmunidad. Las garrapatas en en cuestión pertenecian al tipo Margaropus annulatus anstrales.
• 4.  En otra ocasión se produjo un ataque leve de piroplasmosis en una cabra de monte (mazama sartorii reperticia Goldman) por medio de las picaduras producidas por la progenia del Margaropus annulatus anstrales obtenida del ganado vacuno antes de ser sacrificados en los mataderos de la ciudad de Panamá.
• 5.  Es probable que los piroplasmas serval y bovino sean idénticos. De no ser asi, entonces lo probable es que la garrapata Margaropus annulatus anstrales sea capaz de actuar como agente portador para los tipos de piroplasmas y que la garrapata usa al ciervo y al ganado como huéspedes.
• 6.  El valor práctico de estos experimentos consiste en que se indica al ciervo como un portador importante de la piroplasmosis del ganado.

Probably the greatest advancement in the field of pharmaceutical therapeutics was brought about by the result of Ehrlich's famous 606th experiment, with its modifications. The treatment of syphilis and yaws became quickly revolutionized and that of relapsing fever became established. Other therapeutic procedures by this agent are being molded slowly for equally common and almost equally serious diseases, but with cures of a less spectacular nature. Moreover, the value of this arsenical agent in these latter conditions is not so striking because these diseases have other specifics which, however, also have their limitations.

Tropical medicine affords an exceptionally wide field for extra-syphilitic uses of dioxydiamidoarsenobenzol and its modifications and I feel that the full value of this drug in some of the tropical and subtropical diseases is not, as a whole, sufficiently appreciated. I need only mention yaws, gangosa and relapsing fever.

• 1.  In the vicinity of Jaffa, Palestine, about the River Auja and its tributaries, there exists an endemic focus of vesical bilharziasis of not insignificant range. Progress in intensive farming will make it of still greater importance.
• 2.  Contrary to prevailing opinion, the diagnosis of light cases of vesical bilharziasis by means of microscopical urine tests, frequently presents serious difficulties. In many cases, also eosinophilia fails as a positive test. In those cases, complement fixation (according to Fairley) seems to acquire particular significance.
• 3.  In no case did subcutaneous application of emetine lead to permanent cure. On the other hand intravenous application of antimony tartrate (Christopherson's method) produced not a single failure.

• 1.  En la vecindad de Jaffa, Palestina y en los alrededores del río Auja y sus tributarios, existe un foco endémico de bilharziosis vesical cuyo alcance es de importancia. El cultivo intenso del terreno le dará mayor importancia aún.
• 2.  A pesar de la creencia general, el diagnóstico de los casos leves de bilharziosis vesical por el exámen microscópico de la orina, presenta muy serias dificultades con frecuencia. En muchos casos, la eosinofilia no dá resultados positivos. En tales circunstancias, la fijación del complemento (de acuerdo con Fairley) adquiere una significación especial.
• 3.  La administración subcutánea de emetina no dió resultados permanentes en ninguno de los casos. Sin embargo, se tuvo éxito completo mediante la administración por vía intravenosa del tartrato de antimonio (Método de Christopherson).

Two strains of Leishmania brasiliensis have been isolated from the lesions by means of the culture medium employed for the isolation and cultivation of organisms of the Leptospira group of spirochetes. It is suggested that this medium is highly advantageous for the isolation and maintenance of Leishmania, because, of (1) the simplicity of preparation, (2) the stability at ice-box temperatures, (3) the luxuriant growth obtained, and (4) the long period of life of the cultures without transfer.

The leptospira medium has the advantage, therefore, of being applicable to the cultivation of three distinct groups of microorganisms, two of the Spirochaetae (Leptospira, Spironema) and one protozoon (Leishmania).

Dos razas de Leishmania brasiliensis fueron aisladas de las lesiones usando el medio de cultivo empleado para el cultivo puro de los organismos del grupo Leptospira de los espiroquetos. Se sugiere que este medio es muy ventajoso para la separación y manutención en cultivo puro del Leishmania, por las razones siguientes: (1) sencillez de preparación, (2) estabilidad en las temperaturas de las neveras, (3) desarrollo exuberante y (4) larga duración de vida de los cultivos sin necesidad de hacer trasplantes.

El medio de cultivo del leptospira tiene la ventaja, por lo tanto, de ser aplicable al cultivo de tres grupos diferentes de microorganismos, dos de ellos espiroquetes (Leptospira, Spironema) y el otro un protozoo (Leishmania).

• 1.  Carbon tetrachlorid in diminished doses, when used in the treatment of hookworm disease, has a selective action upon female hookworms and does not remove ascarides.
• 2.  Ascaridol, the active principle of chenopodium, in diminished doses has a selective action upon male hookworms and is remarkably efficient in removing ascarides.
• 3.  A mixture of the two drugs does not increase their toxicity toward the host, since carbon tetrachlorid has a specific action upon the liver, whereas ascaridol affects chiefly the central nervous system.
• 4.  An anthelmintic approaching the ideal for field treatment of hookworm disease is obtained by administering 2 cc. of a mixture containing 4 parts carbon tetrachlorid and 1 part ascaridol. The mixture is highly efficient, comparatively non-toxic, easy to administer, and inexpensive.

• 1.  El tetracloruro de carbono usado en dosis reducidas en el tratamiento de la uncinariasis, manifiesta una acción selectiva en contra de las uncinarias hembras pero no expulsa a los ascárides.
• 2.  El ascaridol, principio activo del quenopodio, usado en dosis reducidas, manifiesta una acción selectiva en contra de los uncinarias machos y es también sumamente eficaz para causar la expulsión de los ascárides.
• 3.  La mezcla de las dos drogas no aumenta su toxididad hacia el huésped, pues el tetracloruro de carbono ejerce una acción específica sobre el hígado mientras que el ascaridol general-mente afecta al sistema nervioso central.
• 4.  Se consigue un antelmíntico casi ideal para el tratamiento de la uncinariasis en campaña, mediante la administración de una mezcla que contenga 4 partes de tetracloruro de carbono y l parte de ascaridol. Esta mezcla es altamente eficiente, comparativamente sin toxicidad, fácil de administrar y de poco costo.

In an analysis of hookworm counts made on the Ilha dos Marinheiros, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, a rather definite correlation is found between the intensity of infection and the amount of shoe-wearing among the different age groups of both sexes.

It is indicated that infections are contracted in this particular area, not so much by prolonged contact with the humid earth of the fields as by relatively shorter exposure to highly infected spots of pollution.

De un analisis de conteos de uncinarias que se hizo en la Isla de Marineros, Estado de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, se demuestra la existencia de una correlación definida entre la intensidad de la infección y el uso de calzado entre los diferentes grupos de edades de ambos sexos.

Parece indicarse que las infecciones en esta región particular no se contraen por medio del contacto prolongado con el terreno humedo de los campos tanto como a una expocición relativamente corta en puntos de contaminación altamente infectado.

During the past year, throughout the United States, the work of organizing the Gorgas Memorial State Governing Committees has been progressing. In some states the response has been most enthusiastic, while in others considerable effort has been necessary to bring home to the doctors, the importance of this movement to them, individually and collectively. Inasmuch as the Gorgas Memorial is primarily a medical movement and as such must have the united support of the profession if it is to make the proper impression on the general public, we take this occasion to outline briefly the Gorgas plan and to request the coöperation of our colleagues in bringing to a successful issue, this national health program.

The next meeting of the Society will be held in Washington May 5 and 6, 1925, in connection with the Congress of American Physicians and Surgeons of which it is a component organization. There will be two general meetings of the Congress, May 5 at 8:00 p.m. and May 6 at 2:30 p.m., both in the Hall of Nations, Hotel Washington. At the second meeting there will be a discussion of the subject of “Ductless glands” with Dr. Stockard of Cornell Medical School, Dr. Cannon of Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Abel of Johns Hopkins Medical School as principal speakers.

Further information concerning the Congress and the meeting of this Society will be issued when available. The meeting place will be Parlor D, Hotel Washington.

From out of the richness of experience gained by twenty years devotion to the study of the African sleeping sickness problem, there is given to Science another contribution that will serve to strengthen her forces in battle with the dreaded scourge of Africa.

Prof. F. W. W. Stephens graces this memoir with a foreword. In his reference to the present problems of African sleeping sickness Professor Stephens theorizes on the probable consequence to man of the retreat of wild animals before the advancing civilization of Africa. He presumes that since the tsetse fly would be deprived of their natural source of food supply man would be subjected to intensified attacks of the insect with presumably fatal results. The foreword is closed with this significant remark, “Experience of the futility of antimalarial measures carried out without previous exhaustive entomological studies should serve as a warning.”