The Russellville Democrat., 1888-10-04
LIVELY ToRMENroas.



Some of the Pleasures Of the Insect World
Of Brazil
Insects Of all countries often possess
an extensive power Of annoyance great
D. 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 IL those
who are 70 the manner born become
case-hardened, the traveller from
rlimes where insect-life is less Of
fsnsive In its attacks. can never be
wholly recOnciled TO his lot Even the
most generous Of Christians hsrbQrs a
re7engeful spirit against biz blood
thirsty bat minute assa..l ANTS, which
are at once puny aD1. powerful.
Take the brsb-tick. for example.
OF this d!gliuutiye monster there ore
three ypecies, Of which the largest IL
about three-quarters Of an Inch in di-
ameter. We are told that this insect
was known TO the Bncieuts; but it is
very unlikely that they euj0Yed its
tft- % 'tArsA'-s iA'Ag are tttaf-F al IL
ties: Izodes ricinua Ixodes plumbeus
and lxodes retieulatus The Latin
name was derived from its supposed
resemblance 70 the ripe bean Of the
Palma Christi. The Brazilian name is
carrapato; and when examined under
a magnifying-glass, it is seen to be
furnished with weapon Of offense in
the form Of a trident Of teeth, which
are serrated inwards. Il has also
three paic Of legs, and each leg is pro-
Vlde1 with strong hooked claws. EuOr-
nous quantities 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. w hen
Mr.. II. w. Bates was 10 tie highlands
Of Brazil, be had ~ devote an hc,,y al
the end Of his daily rambles tc pick
ing OF the carrapotos that chung to
him by their lAcisiYe fangs The in
Fiction IS go dreadful that horses and
cattle sometimes die from the exhaus-
tioH caused by the Bites Of these Great
ures, which settle 10 swarms The
traveller soon has the appearance Of a
person suffering from shingles. Sou,e-
times the attacks bring on ricinian
fever, just az In Russia, people may
suffer from pulicious fever. The
rainy season kills many Of the
carrapatos, and they also fall q
prey to the birds; and the eiriema, In
particular, Is never shot by the natives,
because they know the value Of its
services N thinning the ranks OF the
mnlutudinous blood-sucking Ixodes
Another insect torment OF Brazil is
the Jigger, or Pubex irritans, Pulex
subintrans, Pulex minimus, Pulex
penetrans- These interesting Great
ures make their home chiefly In the
human foot, and hence are known TO
The Brazilians as bichos do pc foot
beasts). MIR II. G. Dent had five OF
these uuwelcome guests from January
TO June. and they took up their abode
in the following localities: the first on
the right big toe, second on the right
heel, third on the left heel, and two
under the sole Of the left foot. He
had to cut them out
Still worse are the verno, which at
tack indifferently cattle and human
beings With animals, they appear to
raise a large hard lump. SO that they
probably reside IN the skin after the
fashion OF the ox-warble in this coun-
try. Sir Richard Burton says that
stories are current Of negroes losing
their lives from the berno. The grub
is deposited in the nose and other
parts of the body, and If squeezed to
death, instead OF extracted, it
testers, and produces serious con-
sequences. Children Of three months
old may suffer from visitation OF
the berno. Some OF the natives, in the
case Of adults, apply burning stick
to the wound ia order to destroy the
worm. Mercurial ointment Is also
used. Mr.. Dents dog was one mass of
sores from the bernos and bichos do
pc, and it was pitiable to see HIN. when
running about, turn round almost every,
minute and, with a pidail whine, bite
his wounds until they were raw. Such
are some OF the pleasures of the insect
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