The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-11-19

and was brought under the microscope.
II appeared nj once 10 be living para
slte-the same as described above.
All weed lice and most OF the nnpois-
onous insects In general, are harmless,
innocent animals as far as general health
Ia concerned, but they are most annoy
ing, miserable little Itching creatures.
The weeds Of our Texas cities are a
great public nuisance themselves, and
the authorities should therefore erhdi.
cate all the weeds and brush out OF the
vacant yards, alleys. public squares, etc.
Next TO the weed lice, mites, ticks and
mosquitoes, there Is another very COM
mon parasite among the rest of Texan
insects. 1 mean sthe lioe family, OF
which four species are especially char
acteristic, viz The common head louise
(pedloulus capitis); the feltlouse (pedic-
illus pubis); the large garment louise
(pediculus vestimenti), and the sick
louise (pedioulus tabes-centium). The
head lice are widespread throughout the
world and among all nationalities, but
particularly and exclusively among such
persons who are very unclean or live In
poverty and filthy conditions. They are
real plague TO those infested with
them. and they multiply exceedingly
quick and numerous. One louise gene
rally lays about 30 eggs. In nine days
these eggs are Matched out, and In three
weeks the young lice lay eggs again, so
that one female louse can develop sew
eral thousand office In a short time. In
different animals, In mammals and birds,
the color Of lice differs greatly, perhaps
due to the pigment they absorb. Many
plants and animals, especially the fowls,
have their peculiar species OF lice, some
OF them concealing two or three
entirely different kinds. In Texas.
lice are not as abundant and wide
spread rs In some countries, but
II Is interesting to follow the history and
anecdotes of some writers on this sub
ject DIR. A. Reichenbach, In his "Natur-
nj History Of the Three Kingdoms" de-
scribes several instances In which these
parasites developed to a fearful extent.
A young man Of refined parentage was
combed by his servant at home, and.
while he was sent later to pension, he
must have felt ashamed TO clean himself
in the presence OF his comrades, or per-
haps he was too lazy to do this work
himself as he was not acquainted with
the danger OF uncleanliness In this re-
speot. In few months the parasites
on his head had developed to such an ex-
tent that he knew no means how to
protect himself. His head was full OF
sores and alterations so that none OF
his school comrades dared to commence
with him. Even poor barber would
not undertake the task to clean the fell
lows head for large sum Of money, so
that finally the lady Of the house took
pity on him, and after cutting the hair,
champooing and cleaning the head with
vinegar she finally succeeded In restor-
ing the unfortunate victim so far that
he could go again into society. Lice are
abundant In overcrowded localities, es-
pecially in jails and unclean hospitals
One Of the greatest eyesores and dis.
graces to this city IL the old city Jail or
"bat cave" which conceals myriads Of
lice and parasites Of all sorts-something
for our city fathers to look after.
fro be CONTINUED.