Dipterous Larvæ and Wound Treatment

Abstract

DURING the war of 1914–18, W. S. Baer¹, in the United States, noticed that when troops wounded in battle had been lying out on the ground unattended for some time, their wounds very commonly became infested with larvæ of certain kinds of flies. He noticed specially that when the wounds had acquired about their maximum maggot population they did not exhibit dangerous after-effects. On the other hand, men whose wounds had received prompt early treatment often developed infection. It was found that the presence of these larvæ was especially beneficial in cases of osteomyelitis. It was discovered that the larvæ were eating the necrotic tissue which was supporting the main bacterial infection, and at the same time these larvæ were inhibiting further bacterial growth. Stewart² claimed that the scavenging larvæ play an important part in clearing the necrotic tissue, but that calcium carbonate, which is constantly excreted by the larvæ, is also important in alkalizing the medium (the wound) in which the bacteria live, and of increasing phagocytie activity.