The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-01
A CHIGGER CEMETERY.

The ChtgRerss Interesting Personality.
CHIGRE-A aea-like insect. reddish in color.
buTles itself beneath the epidermlS ana causes
irrltatiOn--The Dictionary.
Probably no other implement of torture
save perhaps the heat of the sun, Is re-
ceIvIng the amount of public attention In
Topeka that is just at present accorded
this thoroughly exasperatinR, mOrals-de-
stroying agency. Although he may be
referred TO in some dozen contOrtions OF
photography, none Of them seem quite
so expressive TO the man who has been
formally introduced to him, as the good
old Anglo-Saxon dash The most COM
mon American reference however,
though it is not to be found IN the die
tiOnary, is Nchigger," and by this handle
then shall we know him.
Socially. the chigger is delightfully."- in
formal and not at all exclusive How
ever, if you ever become thoroughly &C
Quainted with him it will be by a scratch
That's what the chigger is there for. His
peculiarly lies in his fatal desire to bur-
row in human flesh, and he has never
been known to ask for quit claim deed
on the flesh. If it is there, it is his'n.
10 person is thoroughly selfish, and 1t
is doubtful if any well meaning man who
has not heart of stone, would make
serious objection to becoming the last
resting place Of any respectable chigger
OF well known ancestry if the chigger
would do it quietly and be decent about
ger Will steal quietly into your sys-
TEN and take entirely undue advan-
tage of your inducements as q Gem etery.
lie prefers to make his presence more
than mere matter Of surpOsition. To
this end the chigger early u life famil-
iarizes himself with both the skirt and
serpentine dances. You endeavor to
quiet him with your attention but he re-
fuses to be quieted and then it is that you
begin to Cast about you for some terner
means.
A JOURNAL reporter secured some ex-
cellent specimens of this interesting
study in natural history recently, almost
without effort. They were fine large
Garfield park chiggers and he knew
they were there. Scratching simply en-
cOuraged them. he found. and so he
sought the advice of friend. his
friend was a fiend- scratch the places
raw" he said, land then battle them we'll
in aromatic spirits of ammonia" The
reporter did and the friend has wisely
gone to Colorado 10 spend the summer.
But it killed the chiggers!
Perhaps the best authority in town on
chiggers is Dr. L. NJ Powell. s'The best
remedy for chiggers that I know Of
said he, sis to keep off the grass. Or if
you have been invited to a picnic and
feel that you must make a sacrifice Of
yourself, get h0me'as quickly as poss bic
and take good bath. The chigger does
not go into the flesh Immediately by any
means. When you begin to scratch then
the chIgger begins to dig. Look for your
chigger before you scratch and you can
find him. Then pick him off and hurl
him from you If he Is a VinewOOd
chigger, take club. OF course you have
heard of the old fashioned remedy, salt
and water. That is good Any antiseptic
remedy is good, and the stronger it is
better"
DR.. Menninger's opinion of the CHG
ger was much the same; and SO, in fact,
we're those of all the other physicians
that JOURNAL reporter called on for in
formation yesterday.
AFTER you have succeeded in allowing
the chigger to incarRdte himself, you
cannot discourage him without more or
less injury or hurt to yourself. Probably
the surest means is to battle the affected
parts with pure aqua ammonia. 1t will
sting for u while, and you should be
careful in its use, but you will find it
satisfactory so far ~ the chigger is con-
cerned."
There is another doctor further down
the street that the reporter called on, but
whose name will not be printed because
the reporter has a shirt in the laundry
here. He is a big man aud carries him
self with impressive dignity.
"A man." said this doctor with a Qrunt,
who is such a colossal fool as to let
little thing like an Insignificant chigger
bother him. ought to suffer. He Is Ger
tainly either very tender skinned or
hasn't sense enough to apply a simple
remedy"
The doctor thoughtfully reached down
and scratched his right leg.
Soap and water, sir, viii remove any
chigger. Simply soap and water. If 4
man will battle daily-and what respect
able man does not. sir-he may 60 into
the grass with impunity."
The doctor here bestowed q little time
on his left leg.
"But what disgusts me, sir, il that a
mana man, mark you - will allow
chiggers to so disturb his peace Of mind.
No chigger will be noticed if be is not
scratched, and has man lost so much of
his masculine will power in this age thai
he cannot refrain from a thing SO frivOl-
Gus as scratchingS A woman or child
might get that way and show it, but q
Enau-never."
There is no telling what more the doc
tor might have said in the strength Of
his disgust if he had not felt suddenly
impelled to drop the book he was hold
ing. and without regard for his shattered
glasses make most unique and savage
passages up and down his legs with his
finger nails, accompanying his antics
with EXPLANATIONS that would I'LL whole
columns with dashes.
His agony was SO apparent that the
reporter. wondering if anything could be
done to save him, asked, what seems to
be the matter doctorf"
@Chiggers, you, sir, chiRRers;"
snOrted the doctor, and the reporter re-
tired
The Kindergarten.