STRANGE SKIN AFFECTION.

Shannon News, 8 January 1924, Page 3

STRANGE SKIN AFFECTION.

CAUSED BY STARLINGS. Many residents of Sydney have lately spent sleepless nights irritated almost to maddening point by a mysterious skin affection, and there lias been much speculation a s to its origin. In one instance-a medical man was called in and prescribed lor a common dermatological affection—heat rash. But relief was onily temporary, and a lew hours later tiie members of the family concerned found themselves with the same irritating red spots. It was not until a searching examination of,, the premises was made that the cause of the complaint, was traced. It was found to be. due tola plague of lice, brought about by starlings. These birds are notoriously subject to lice, which are so small as to be almost invisible. Hundreds of homes in the Eastern suburbs, in particular, are infected With these feathered pests at the present time, which is their nesting season. The nests are invariably almost inaccessible. Tucked aw a y under iron roofs, they breed their young—and their lice. While the young are in the nest the lice as a rule do not leave it, but the moment they learn to fly and the nest becomes deserted, they find their way through the ceiling into the room beneath. And if that room happens to be a bedroom, it may become literally alive with the insects within a few hours. So bad did one house become that every room had to be turned out and every stitch of clothing boiled, and the walls, floors, etc.,, thoroughly disinfected. Even then it took several days to get rid of the plague. Once the insects find their way on to a human being, the affected person becomes covered in small red blotches intensely irritating, which becomes worse as the body gets warm.