The herald., 1895-06-23

for absorbing liquid food, which it OBJ
tans by process of perforation. The
mouth organs consist OF a labrum, man.
Gibles maXillae, maxillary palpi and lab
raj palpi. Thus 1t has three pairs of OF
gans and one single organ for the work of
obtaining nourishment and we all know
that it uses them with great effect.
The lahrum, or upper lip. is slender
saw-edged brlstle, perforated throughout
its length with minute canal. The
mandibles are on each side of 1T. and are
formed like two straight, fiat blades,
pointing downward and notched on each
side like a double saw. The mandl bular
teeth number about seventy-hve in each
row on each side. There are six hun
dred Of these sharp. glittering teeth.
the maxiliae are two sharp triangular
pieces. fur nighei with pair OF long four
or lower lip, carries pair of palpi each
OF which has knife-llke edge.
All these instruments cooperate harmo-
niously in the work OF piercing the skin
with marvellous rapidity. When we re-
member that 1t requires considerable
pressure to make a pin draw blood
through the human skin. we shall better
appreciate the powers of tiny flea
The flea has large stomach. but that
does not measure its capacity for devoul-
ing blood. 1t is able to eject the con-
tents of its stomach whenever an oppor-
tunity presents OF obtaining newer and
fresher supply. 1t never misses an op-
portunity.
The flea shows preference for women,
children and persons with thin skins.
A large flea is able to leap to the height
of q foot. or about hundred times its
| own length. If a man could take leap
| similarly proportioned to his height, he
would apparently be able to jump over
| the Pulitzer building. But scientific ex-
animation shows this calculation to be
| erroneous.
A medical authority gives the following
| advice to those greatly troubled by iieas
in their houses. The best and indeed
only effectuai means OF getting rid OF
these pests is by thorough and system
attic cleaning. PuleX irritans goes through
| its various stages from the egg to the
perfect insect in period OF about a
month, and the first thing to do. there
| fore. is thoroughly to cleanse all articles
| likely to form a indus for the eggs at peri
DDS within month or before they burst.
Furs, woolen garments mattresses, pill
| lows and all such things, and the various
| folds and plaits IN our clothes, are fire.
ouently chosen as suitable places for the
deposit of eggs. While linen materials
generally receive frequent and thorough
cleansing, the articles we just mentioned
are often but imperfectly cleansed. and
herein, in many cases, lies the unsuspect-
| ed cause of the plague.
As long as the plague lasts blankets
should be washed at least once fortnight
and subjected 20 temperature-eithe by
steam or by some other means-sufficient-
Iy high to kill the ova. Old pillow cases
should be destroyed or subjected to heat
| in the same way, and carpets. rugs, cur
tains and clothes-in fact, anything like
lv to form harbor for the pests-shuuld
receive similar attention. Floors should
be washed at least once fortnight with
salt and water, about a handful to pi;t
strong decoction of laurel leaves, it is
said, will answer the same purpose.
Before retiring for the night the body
should be sponged with weak vinegar ano
water. pulex irritans will often ceas'
from troubling. To allay;the irritation
caused by the bite, sal volatile or salt ant
water is generally etficacious.