, 1888-10-31
INSECT TORRENTS OF BRAZIL.
Creeping Pests Which Lodge Tnder the
Skin and Must Be Cut Out.

creeping Pests Which Lodge snder the
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 n
born become case hardened, the traveller
from chimes where insect life is less Of
fensive in its attacks a never be wholly
-~Feconciled- 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
t~hree-quarters of an inch in diameter.
We are told that this insect was known
to the ancients, but it is very unlikely
hat they enjoyed its acquaintance.
There are three varieties: Ixodes %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 a weapon of offense in the
form of a 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 n
passing animal which brushes past, and
fatten on it.
When Mr.. H. 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 hat 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 traveler
soon has the appearance of q person suf-
fering from shingles. Sometimes the
attacks bring on ricinian fever, just as
in Russia people may suffer from pu-
hcious fever. The rainy season kills
many of the c~arrapatos, and they also
fall a prey to the birds; and the ciriema,
in particular, is shot by the ma
tives, because they know the value of its
services in thinri1c the ranks of the
m~ultitudinous bla aucking Ixodes.
Another insecj .a.ment of Brazil is the
jigger, or Pule1 i~rritans. Pulex subin-
trans, Pulex minimus, pulex Penetrans.
These interesting creatures make their
home chiefly in the human foot, and
hence are known to the Brazilians as
bichos do pc foot beasts. Mr.. II. G.
Dent had five of these unwelcome 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 verne, which attack
indifferently cattle and human beings.
With animals they appear to raise a
large, hard lump, 80 that they probably
reside in the skin, after the fashion of
the OK MARBLE. Sir Richard Burton says
that stories are current of negroes losing
their lives from the berno. The grub is de-
posted in the nose and other parts of the
body, and if squeezed to death instead
of extracted, it testers and produces
serious consequences. Children three
months old may suffer from a visitation
Of the berno. Some of the natives, in
the case of adults, apply a burning stick
to the wound in order to destroy the
worm. Mercurial ointment is also used.
Mr.. Dents dog was one mass of sores
from the bernos and bichos de pc, and it
was pitiable to see him, when running
about, turn round almost every minute
and, with q pitiful whine, bite his wounds
until they were raw. Such are some of
the pleasures of the insect world of Bra
zil.-New York Star.