A study of the reaction to phlebotomus bites with some remarks on “Harara”

The reaction to the bite of Phlebotomus papatasii has been studied in a population, in which previous contact with phlebotomus was definitely excluded. The course of the reactions obtained confirms former views that a process of sensitization takes place in a relatively short time, which is later followed by a slow process of de-sensitization. The view that the “harara” of Palestine is due to phlebotomus bites is confirmed experimentally, and harara is defined as the reaction to phlebotomus bites at the height of the sensitization process.