Bombyx Processionea

An insect belonging to the class Lepidoptera.

Common name , Procession moth (common in Europe, on oak trees). [Avenues in the Bois de Boulogne are sometimes closed, to protect the public from the irritation of the skin that the hairs of this caterpillar cause.]

Preparation , Tincture of the live caterpillars.

Authorities.

1 , Calmeil, N. Journ. de Med., vol. 9, effects of disturbing a nest; 2 , Galignani's Messenger (Pharm. J., 22, 136), a boy shook from a tree an immense number of the caterpillars into his naked breast.

EYES

• Painful swelling of the lids, 1.
• Lachrymation, 1.

STOMACH AND EXTREMITIES

• Nausea, 1.
• In the morning, swelling of the hands and finger-joints, 1.

SKIN

• Skin covered with large red spots, which were soon followed by a general swelling, 2.
• Dr. C. preserved a nest of the caterpillars in a large glass vial, which was not opened for ten years. At length it was opened in the presence of several persons, all of whom caught the eruption, 1.
• If a nest of the insects is touched or stirred up, persons within reach of the emanations arising therefrom will be attacked with a papulous eruption, more or less confluent which will last several days and be attended with violent itching, 1.
• The arms are covered with hard, large, uneven, areola-formed tubercles, with a red areola, so thick as to leave hardly any space between, 1.
• Eruption of a wonderful number of linear-formed tubercles over the whole arm, and even over the chest and abdomen; most marked near all the joints, 1. [10.]
• Sensation as if a foreign body were under the skin, 1.
• Itching of whole body, 1.
• A severe itching sensation, so that he was compelled to run home for assistance, 2.
• Itching, evenings, not relieved by anything, 1.
• Itching of both hands, increasing to a pain, 1.

SLEEP AND DREAMS

• Frequent waking, nights, 1.
• Dreams that the arm is being cauterized, and arrows thrust into the muscles, 1.

FEVER

• Burning heat; great desire to scrape the skin, 1.
• Violent heat of arms and face, 1.
• Fever, somnolency, and delirium, followed by death, 2.