The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-08-20
WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.
Worms that Bore Through Solid Rock
A Berks Country Production-Medical
Virtues of the Reptile.


A correspondent of the Reading Eagle,
member of a college party Of scientists,
writes from Brecknock township, Berks
county, to that paper:
/ hasten to inform you of a most remark
able discovery we have made here in the
shape of burrowing worm that we find
along the numerous stretches of hard, sharp
and brittle sand, lying above the ledges OF
grew finty stone that skirt this section in
every direction from three to five feet be-
low the surface of the ground. The species
is very well known by the old people in
this part of Berks county, but never before
have its wonderful and varied quail
ties been published. We arrived here from
Millerstown three days ago, and since then
have been making geological and scientific
investigations Of several remarkable
phenomena. the most novel and curious of
which is this burrowing worm In what
class this singular little reptile is to be
placed, we have not as yet made out. They
average from five to six inches in length,
and are about the size of a pipeStem in their
largest parts The color is dark gray, and
the skin very ne; rly as tough as tanned
hide Their under sides are several de
grees lighter in shade, and ridge of rough
ribs extend along their under sides about
three inches One inch of their tails is
hard and much resembles bone. Their
heads are small and very sharp. Two
small black eyes are sunk deep in their
heads, and their noses are hard and bony.
Undoubtedly they are the most muscular
little reptiles living. In narrow strip of
sand de- osit in thi section of the township
about a half mile north of the post
Office, we, in company with Mr.. Samuel
Y. Miller and Jared Strouse, found count
less thousands of these worms burrowing
in the sand With the aid of several farm
laborers we threw up quantity of sand
dug down about forty feet until we came to
hard rock. Upon close examination We
found the rock literally drilled through in
hundreds of places. The holes were the
exact size Of these worms, and to further
prove that they were the sole and only
cause of this most singular state Of affairs,
many Of the holes were p1nctured and
worms withdrawn from them. By great
effort and the use of crow bar, we broke
off a piece of the boulder and found it drill
led through and through in ffty-seven dis
tinct places The holes were drilled with
as much regularity and evenness. as if it
had been done by man aided by the best
and most improved machinery. The far
mers in this section, as You may well ina
gine were perfectly dumbfounded, and our
party is not yet able to account for this
very strange phenomena. We placed sew
eral worms under the microscope and found
their bodies perfect network of strong
and fbrous muscles, concentrating at point
on the back about midway between the
head and tail. Their noses are strong bone
of flinty hardness, and with these they are
able to work their way through the hard
est boulder. 1t is difficult to arrive at the
true and exact manner in which they work
but it is our opinion that they must GER
tainly operate on the spiral principle The
ribs on the lower side receive the stone
dust from their borings, and by the spiral
action convey it to the top of the way All
in all, this very singular and tough little
worm is in all probability the most wonder
full thing of as kind ever discovered 1t
may be known by others, but so far we
have never before heard of it.
The people in this section are aware of
the existence of the worm, but not of its
wonderful characteristics Several old wo-
men hereabouts have long used its BODY for
medicinal purposes. | was very much
amused at this when [ first was told of it.
but after being assured of its truth, | gave
the matter more serious consideration. A
certain old lady by the name of Darrich
who resides in the mountains several miles
from here, has the reputation of being what
IS commonly denominated witch doctor,
She employs all sorts of agencies to effect
her cures, and | am told she is visited bv a
great many people for miles around, who
come to be treated for various diseases
She places great reliance upon the curative
qualities of this worm, which she calls the
''never ending flesh" She has a German
name for it, meaning what | have stated
She says she has used the dry carcasses of
these worms many times She wears a
ring made of one, and AYERS that ANYBODY
wearing one will never suffer rheumatism
Ear rings made of them will prevent ear
ache and headache, and necklace made o4
tnem VIII cure or prevent sore throat.
She has long chain made of dried and
preserved carcasSes of one hundred and fifty
OF the reptiles This wound around the
body next to the skin will cure cramps and
be OF great aid and benefit to married
ladies in their hours of labor. Mrs. Darrioh
places great reliance on this cure, and she
has frequently taken powdered worms and
scalded them with hot tansey tea to admin.
lister internally for the cure of consu,nption
and nI1lmoDor,r 1;oaora.