The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-06
FLEA BITE THAT KILLS.
4 Curious Italian Insect Appears i'm
New York City.
From the New York Journal

II IOm lut NEW 1 OTk journal.
The case reported recently Of the man
who was killed by the bite of an italian
flea has attracted the attention of the
board of health and Of ply
scians throughout the city. The
fact that the flea was encoun-
tered in a street car. where the
victim was crowded in closely among a
number of wretched Italians, has made
more than one person timid of bridge
brushes and IL" car Jams.
A Sunday Journal reporter had con-
siderable difficulty In finding any scien-
tific knowledge Of this remarkable flea is
nature and whereabouts. At a number
of stores where animals and insects are
Sold the idea that such "A flea existed
was laughed at
r. s. Roder of No 46s Pearl street a
dealer in animals and insects of all kinds,
was able to give the desired Information
and, although he had no italian fleas In
stock. he said he could fill an order for
them in short time. The Italian flea
causes about one hundred deaths in Italy
alone, and about the same number in
both France and Germany. This alarm
ing mortality Is larger than that for any
other insect In Europe, and almost as
large as the mortality due 10 any one
species of wild animal in any of these
countries.
This deadly flea is comparatively com
mon in Germany, France and Italy II is
known In these countries as the blind
nHa' or gray ued.- 1t makes lis nome in
flea, in dirty clothing or hanglngs
This able-bodied insect is described in
scientific books as a winged octoped. 1t
is about the size of an American llorsefiy
1t has been known, however, to grow
under favorable conditions, to somewhat
larger proportions. TO sensitive person
the idea Of having swarm Of such pow
erful buzZing things about is not alto
gether inviting. 1t goes. about its bust
IGn o In Fact t sings when AT a
work in much the same way as a Jersey
mosquito.
that the bite or sting of an italian flea"
Is not of itself dangerously poisonou2
The skin Is of course poisoned more or
less by the bite of this Interesting insect
but this in most cases is likely to result
only in an irritation of the skin, similar
to that of vermin. II differs however
in being more poisonous than that of our
Its sting is. therefore, accompanied usu-
ally by a swelling and a sharp itching
sensation. This is annoying enough in its
way, but not necessarily dangerous to hui
man life.
The fact is that the italian flea" com
mfts homicide inadvertently. The flea Is
equipped with sharp bill not unlike tina.
of the mosquito. It attacks everything
edible In its native land IL feeds largely
upon the flesh OF dead ANIMALS and refuse
Of all kinds In this way 1t contracts
dangerous disease germs. and the pecu-
Har formation of its bill enables II to
carry this poison. Wllen ~ plunReG its
bill into one of its human victims II
delves quite deep enough in most cases
TO reach the inner tissue of the cuticle.
1t may readily be understood, however.
that poisons of all sorts may be carried
and planted in living human flesh.
The flea becomes in this way wherever
it abounds. a dangerous menace to life
The peasantry in Southern France and
Italy live in constant peril of this little
visitor, whose sting is like an adder
The deaths from this source are caused
usually by aggravated blood poisoning.
Mild cases of blood poison are exceeding
ly common.
1t is probable that there are many of
these heas in New York city at the pres
ent time II Is a comparatively easy
matter for the most wretched types Of
Immigrants to bring this dangerous in
sect across the water concealed in their
luggage or even upon their person. There
Is probably no other city In the world
in which vermin is So readily trans
ferred from one extreme Of society to
another. The crowded Il" trains and
Bridge cars, and the sidewalks with their
cosmopolitan throng. enable this danger
Gus insect 10 travel from the east to
the west side with ease.