Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-07
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER I, 1859.

INSECTS AND THEIR HUMAN PREY.-There
is gentleman in Schenectady, says the
Star, a resident of Cuba, who was afflicted
with singular disease, which baf:ed the
skill Of several medical men. lie hnaily con-
suited physician in New York, who, alter
much research, unravellcd the case IL Is
believed to be unique in the annals ut lncdi-
cine. A small red swelling appeared on the
lower part of the abdomen, which was the
seat of pain and uneasiness; it gradually
shifted its position and reached the chest
The New York doctor suspected that there
was a living insect in the flesh, and the gen
tleman one day scratched the swelling,
when he observed something moving in the
fluid which escaped, and found it to be a
living insect, one-eighth Of an inch in length;
nnder the microscope it appeared to be COW
cred with caale, with serated edges. It's
probably the dhigOe, an insect resembling
a fca found in the West Indies, which pen
ctratcs the sk;n-it sometimes produces fatal
ulcers.
In Africa there is a worm called the Gul-
lea worm, which buries itself i'll the flesh
Of man and gives rise to symptoms similar 10
those of this gentleman; but this is peculiar
toGunea, and is long, slender and round,
like a fiddle string; its length varies from Z"
inches To II feet. The British soldiers sta,
toned at Bombay are frequently attacked
by it: out of 800 men. 1919 were attacked by
ii. When it introduces itself into the iicsh
il is 4 very minute parasite, not more than
I-Goth part of an inch in length, and very
slender, and exists on low, muddy shorcs.-
This little intruder now grows Immensely,
and becomes the parent Of numerous on
spring. Itproluces itching and crawling
sensation, and finally boil forms. and when
il breaks the head Of the animal protrudes.
which is then caught and gently extracted,
care being taken not to break 1t, otherwise
serious and even fatal effects are apt to ensue.
The extraction is very tedious work. The
natives cut the skin when they are near the
surface, and then extract them.
Medical writer's describe no less than about
twenty varieties Of parasites which intest the
human system. Says recent writer III
is a notorious fact that numerous parasites
crawl over our surface, burrow beneath the
skin, nestle in our entrails, and riot and
propagate their kind in every corner OF our
frames; and scarcely a tissue or an organ
but is occasionally profaned by their inroads.
Each has also It's parasite or special MI
ellie. one specimen OF str0hgle chooses me
heart for its place of abide, another inhabits
the arteries, third the kidneys. Myrads
Of minute worms have been found colled up
in the muscles. A little fuke, very much
like a miniature founder. lives stepped IN
gall, in the liver. If the skin OF the nose be
squeezed a chcesey matter will exude, and II
examined by the microscope ten TO one sever
nj animalculcs, extremely minute, but OF
tod utr -
They are present in the majority of living
persons. It's less than one hundredth part
of an inch in length, has y head, chest, alb
domen; has eight legs and very movable
jaws
By recent researches it has been proven
bey0nda doubt that q small insect Is the
cause of itch: the insect, by skilful manage
ment, can be caught and seen under the
microscope. 1t seems a strange and hui
initiating fact that the human body should
provide food and habitation for so many
and such varieties Of these inferior creatures.
CARVING AT DISNER-This extract from
the recently published volume entitled "Din-
ncr, Breakfast and Tea" furnishes some IN
terestins facts touching the most laborious
accomplishment, carving, and how burden
some it was made in olden times
Carving was anciently taught as an at.
and it was performed to the sound of music.
In later times, we read in the life of Lady
Mary w. Montague, that her father the
Duke of Kingston, "having no wife to do the
honors of his table at Thoresby, imposed
that task upon his eldest daughter, as soon
rs she had bodily strength for the office,
which, in those days, required no small
share; for the mistress of a country mansion
was not only to invite-that is, to urge and
teaze her company to eat more than human
Threats could conveniently swallow-but to
carve every dish when chosen, with her own
hands The greater the lady, the more in
dispensable the duty. Each joint was car
ricd up in its turn to be operated on by her,
and her alone, since the peers and knights
on either hand were so far from being bound
to offer their assistance that the very mas.
ter of the house, posted opposite to her,
might not act rs her croupier; his department
was to push the bottle after dinner. As for
the crowds of guests, the most inconsiderable
among them, if suffered through her neglect
to help himself to slice of the mutton
placed before him, would have chewed it In
bitterness, and gone home an affronted man.
There were at this time protested carving
masters, who taught young ladies the art
scientifically, from one Of whom Lady Mary
took lessons three times week, that she
might be perfect on her father public days
when in order to perform her functions
without interruption, she was forced to eat
her own dinner alone, an hour or two before
hand"
TlRED.-The Universal Review, British,
in notice Of the works of DR.. Mackay and
Collcy Grattan on America, says: Most
voyagers in America repeat the same thing
over and over again. We are rather tired Of
hearing that the hotels are of enormous size;
that you can have your clothes washed by
steam that the lake steamers are the most
Luxurious in the world that the ladies dress
in an exaggerated style Of fashion, and that
most persons eat in tremendous hurry"
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