Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-25
KISSING BUG IN BALTIMORE.
Young Woman and Man With Lips
Swollen Treated at Hospital.

The tltimora American of today says:
According to the physicians at the CITY
Hospital, this mysterious insect Is in our
midst and many OF the fairer sex are liable
to be made hideous by its ravages. Already
two patients-one q very pretty young
lady and the other a young gentleman
have been treated at the hospital for swol-
len lips, and DR.. ]. ii. Boyles, formerly OF
ST. Lukes Hospital of New York city. now
connected with the City Hospital dispen-
sary states positively that they were VIC
tins of the same species of insect when
created havoc throughout New York city
couple of years ago.
The young woman who was bitten called
at the hospital on Tuesday. and was at
tended by Drs. Samuel Darling and Major
Allen. She gave the name of Mary Rldg-
away, but declined to state where she lived.
Miss Ridgaway said that on the previous
evening she had felt a sudden pain in her
upper lip while walking along the street.
but that as 1t soon died away she thought
more of 1t. On the following morning.
however, she noticed that her lips were
badly swollen. She applied hot water ana
various other remedies, but to no avail, for
instead Of disappearing the swelling be-
came even more prominent. When Miss
Ridgaway called at the hospital her lips
had assumed enormous proportions, and
she was so much grieved regarding her APP
pearance that she wore napkin tied about
her mouth.
The physicians called Or. BOyleS, who
was in the dispensary at the time into con-
sultation, and he immediately said he
thought it reSembled the sting of q kissing
bug. The diagnosis brought forth smile
from the entire group. even the patient for
getting her trouble for the minute, but at
any rate an application of cold ointment
was made and the patient discharged.
The case was talked of by the members of
the house staff, but none of them thought
seriously of the diagnosis until yesterday,
when Mr.. James Weeks. who lives on 24th
street. called at the dispensary and en-
treated DR.. Harry Wilmot to tell him what
wrong with his face. DR.. Wilmot rec
ogniZed the similarity between Mr.. Weeks
and Miss RidSaWay g cases and called DIR.
Boyles. That physician merely remarked,
"Another victim of the kissing bug and
Mr.. Weeks looked picture of astonish-
ment.
What did you say" he asked.
The statement was repeated. and the pa
tent could hardly restrain himself. How
ever his lips were dressed like the other
patients, and now all of the physicians have
accepted DIR. Boyles' diagnosis.
In speaking of the cases Dr. Boylcs said:
Il was at St Luke's Hospital when the
kissing bug invaded New York about three
years ago, and. in fact there last sum-
mer. During both summers we had nllmer-
Gus complaints from persons who came to
the hospital In preference to seeking the aid
of family physician, and l came in con-
tact with great many of the bugs vic
Tins. All of the cases We're similar and
these two which have been treated here are
very we'll defined cases. The swelling Is
easily reduced by the application of any
cold ointment which will cause the tissue OF
the skin to contract. Sometimes however,
the patients face is disfigured for week
or ten days Despite my experience with
kissing bug victims, l have never seen tho
insect myself