Page:The Indian Journal of Medical Research, Volume 9.djvu/541



As the January, 1922, Number of the Indian Journal o] Medical Research was going to Press, a telegram, dated 28th November, 1921, was received from Mrs. Adie, Tezpur, Assam, in which she states : — " Director on tour, so I inform you direct of swarming infection of Leishman-Donovan bodies found in salivary glands and ducts of C. rotundatus caught 24th instant on bed of suspected Kala-azar case in infected area. Dissected 26th instant. The discovery positively proves that the bed bug is capable of tran.smitting the disease through biting."

Mrs. Adie is working in Assam with the Scientific Committee for the investigation of Kala-azar directed by Major F. P. Mackie, I. M.S., under the auspices of the Indian Research Fund Association.

The Editors decided not to delay publication of the result contained in the telegram, but to issue it at once in the January, 1922, Number of the Journal, as the observation announced is of great scientific interest and, if confirmed, will be a most important addition to our knowledge of the etiology of Kala-azar. ( V )