The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-05
INSECT P0ISGNS.
What to 10 for Stinss OF Spiders,
Wusps. Mosquitoes and Jiggsrs.

Wusps. Nc Squituus and Jiggers.
There is q, widespread impression
that of all insects spiders are the most
to be dreaded. There is, however, but
one species in this region capable Of
ini,ictinG a dangerous wound, and even
not then unless the sting is on the lip
or other place where the skin joins the
inucuous membrane. Small children
and delicate adults may suffer severe
ly, but hardy people escape with but
little more pain than from q bee sting.
These spiders are black, sometimes
with q red spot on the under side of the
abdomen, and the body is only as large
as a pea. They lie in ambush under
logs or boards. and are not, therefore,
great spinners. They seldom invade
the house. If stung by one, send for a
doctor and give d stimulant. If the
pain is severe the doctor will probably
inject morphia and apply cooling To-
tions. a solution OF buraic acid Is as
good as anything. Sometimes a men,
Der Of the family is bitten in the night
by the common gray house spider. and
an infamed swelling with hard white
center appears, much like that produc-
with witch hazel and common baking
soda or borax vii! generally cause the
wound to disappear in few hours.
Bees and wasps and hornets are far
more numerous than singing spiders,
and are more to be dreaded, as many
persons are extremely susceptible to
their stings. The black and yellow
"bumble bees" make their nests in the
clover and among towering brambles
They are apt to become entangled in
long skirts and sting in their\frantic
struggle to set free. on they resent
having their nests disturbed and delb-
erately open battle. The digger wasp
is often seen in July and August and
he is q fellow one is willing to give
all the road to. He is an inch long,
black, with yellow bands, and is very
ferocious, even going out of his way to
attack.
The poison Of all these is acid in char
acter, and alkali kills it. Ammonia,
soda, bCraX, laundry soap, are all good.
They are also good for mosquito bites.
An ounce of prevention is worth a
pound OF cure where mosquitoes are
concerned. a good thick, acrid smoke
made by burning brush will rid a neigh
bornood for an evening and is often
resorted to by campers. If you can
find some pennyroyal to throw on the
fire all the better, for nennyroyal is a
herb the smell Of which mosquitoes
can't abide.
Pennyroyal or Glove tea are GOOD
things to sponge the body with to pre-
vent jiggers from coming to an un-
timely end under your skin. When
walking through loW-growing vegeta-
tiCn, in field or wood, one is pretty
sure to brush of these irritating but
Invisible creatures. The first indica-
ton of their presence is white spot
which itches violently. on close in
spection a tiny scarlet point may be
found in the middle of this. Scratch
ing causes it to intlame and then get
sore. The remedy is, don't scratch;
take. sponge bath of ammonia or soda
water and press out the red points.
These are the heads Of The insect and
the source of irritation. Teach chill
dren not to scratch, how to wet the
surface and then apply dry soda or
powdered horaN to any kind of insect
sting. After the itching stops anoint
the wound with vaseline or sweet oil
and IL will generally have disappeared
by the next morning.