Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1888-10-16
INSECT TORRENTS OF BRAZIL.
Creeping Pests Which Lodge r"ier the
Skin and Must De Cut Out.

Creeping Pests Which Lodge roder thu
Skin and Must BE Cut Out.
Insects in all countries often possess an
extensive power of annoyance greatly in
contrast with their diminutive size. They
appear to combine the maximum of
effect with the minimum of effort in a
very scientific fashion Brazil is specially
favored with parasitic torments, and
even if those who are to the manner
born become case hardened, the traveller
from climes where insect life is less Of
fensive in its attacks can never be wholly
reconciled to his lot. Even the most
generous of Christians harbors a revenge
full spirit against his bloodthirsty but
minute assailants, which are at once
puny and powerful.
Take the bush tick, for example. OF
this diminutive monster there are three
species, of which the largest is about
three quarters of an inch in diameter.
We are told that this insect was known
to the ancients. but it is very unlikely
that they enjoyed its acquaintance.
There are three varieties: 1Xodes ricinus,
Ixodes plumbeus and IXodes reticulatus.
The Latin name was derived from its
supposed resemblance to the ripe bean of
the Palma Christi. The Brazilian name
is carrapato and when examined under
a magnifying glass it is seen to be fur
nished with weapon of offense in the
form of trident of teeth, which are
serrated inward. 1t has also three pairs
of legs, and each leg is provided with
strong hooked claws. Enormous quanti-
ties of the eggs are laid upon the ground,
and the young ones as they creep out
climb up the plants and catch at any
passing animal which brushes past, and
fatten on it.
When Mr.. II. w. Bates was in the
highlands of Brazil, he had to devote an
hour at the end of his daily rambles to
picking off the carrapatos that chung to
him by their incisive fangs. The in
Fiction is SO dreadful that horses and
cattle sometimes die from the exhaustion
caused by the bites of these creatures,
which settle in swarms. The traveller
soon has the appearance of a person sui
fering from shingles. Sometimes the
attacks bring on ricinian fever, just as
in Russia people may suffer from pu.
licious fever. The rainy season kill:
many of the carrapatos, and they also
fall prey to the birds; and the ciriema,
in particular, is never shot by the ma
tives, because they know the value of it;
services in thinning the ranks of the
multitudinous blood sucking Ixodes.
Another insect torment of Brazil is tn,
iigger, or Pulex irritans, PuleX subin
trans, Pulex minimus, pulex Penetrans
These interesting creatures make theil
home chiefly in the human foot, ant
hence are known to the Brazilians al
bichos do pc foot beasts). Mr.. H. c
Dent had five Of these unwelcome guest
, from January to June, and they took VI
their abode in the following localities
, The first on the right big toe, second OF
the right heel, third on the left heel ant
two under the sole Of the left foot. III
had to cut them out.
Still worse are the verne, which attacl
indifferently cattle and human beings
With animals they appear to raise
large, hard lump, so that they probabl.
reside in the skin, after the fashion o
the OK MARBLE. Sir Richard Burton say
= that stories tire current Of negroes losin,
: their lives from the berno. The grub is de
a posted in the nose and other parts of tn
body, and if squeezed to death instea,
o of extracted, it testers and produce
t serious consequences. Children thre
| months old may suffer from visitation
of the berno. Some of the natives, il
the case of adults, apply burning site
to the wound in order to destroy tn
worm. Mercurial ointment is also used
/ Mr.. Dents dog was one mass of sore
Il from the bernos and bichos de pc, and
8 was pitiable to see him, when runnin
9 about, turn round almost every minut
a and, with pitiful whine, bite his wound
until they We're raw. Such l.e some {
the pleasures of the insect world of Bra
q zil.-New York Star.