The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-29
From the -Ne,o YORK. Star.

e Under the SKIN AND Must be Cut
Out.
From the Ne,o YORK. Star
Insects in all countries often possess an
extensive power of annoyance greatly in
contrast with their dininutve size. They
anpear to combine the maximum of effect
with the minimum of effort in a very scien-
tific fashion. 81 aEil is especially 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 offensivein its attacks can
never be wholly reconciled to his lot Even
the most generous of christians harbors a
revengeful spirit against his bloodthirstv
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 ac-
ouaintance. There are three varieties
TX ,des ricinus ixodes plumbus 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 magnifying glass it is seen to be
furnished with a weapon of defense 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 quantities of the
eggs are laid upon the ground, and the
young ones as they creep out climb up the
plants aud catch at any passing animal
which brushes past, and fatten on it. When
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
that chung to him by their incisive fangs
The infection 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 suffering from
shingles. Sometimes the attacks bring on
ticinian fever, just as in Russia, people may
suffer from puliciUus fever. The rainy sea-
son kills many of the carrapatos, and they
also fall a prey to the birds; and the cirema,
in particular, is never shot by the natives
because they know the value of its service in
thinning the ranks of the multitudinous
blood-sucking ixodes.
Another insect torment of Brazil is the
jigger, or pulex irritanS, pulex subintrans,
pulex minimus, pulex penetrans. These
interesting creatures make their home
chiefly in the human foot, and hence are
known 70 the BraZilians as bichos do pc
foot beasts. III. G. Dent had five of these
hnwelcome guests from January to June,
and they took up their abode in the follow
ing localities: The first on the right big
toe, second on the right heel. third on the
eft heel and two under the sole of the left
foot. He had to cut them out.
Still worse are the verne, which attack
ndifferently cattle and human beings
With animals, they appear to raise large
hard lump, so that they probably reside In
Inc skin after the fashion of the ox-warble.
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 consequences.
Children 8 months old may suffer from a
visitation of the berno Some of the ma
tives, in the case of adults, apply 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 do pc, and it was pitt
hble to see him, when running about. turn
around almost every minute and, with a
pitiable whine, bite his wounds until they
were raw. Such are some of the pleasures
bf the insect world of Brazil.