Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-23
LIFE In THE TROPICS
PHYSICAL DIscoMFoRTs MANY
AMONG SCENES OF BEAUTY.
INSECTS SIMPLY LEGION
Mud Is Deep, Natives Degraded, ana
Even the Streams Abound in Ali
gators Lying in Wait for Those
Who Bathe-Yet It's all Fascinat-
irg

Life in Panama has its disadvan-
tages," said a mining man from the
Drien district. "The luxuriant vege-
talion, gayly pIumaged birds and the
happy, care-free atmosphere Of the
tropics may appeal to people Of arts
tic Temperament, but the practical
man is too conscious OF the many
physical dis-;mforts that he meets. l
can tell you that it is no fun to ride a
mule that has to wade through mud
four feet deep, to be poisoned by the
yenemous insects that infest these re-
gions or to put up with the lazy, I'M
principled habits of the degraded
natives.
To begin with, the number of in
sects that have a fondness for the
human body is legion. We think the
fieas of California are a dreadful pest
but we do not appreciate the fact
that it is possible to catch them (if
one have sufficient agility. Now, the
Panama flea is a tiny creature, bright
red in color, and it is almost impOs-
sible to see him. When you are
aware Of his presence (and he is very
forcible in making himself known)
the only means of relief is to battle
in alcohol. And, since he is all
omnipresent creature, that means an
alcohol bath every night before re-
firing. # you omit this operation you
are assured of a wakeful night.
Still worse than the little red flea
and far more dreadly in it's effect is
a small insect that gets into the flesh
of the feet, usually about the nail.
This insect itself is microscopic, and
it burrows into the flesh, laying an
egg that soon matches and causes a
most disagreeabIe itching, with final
swelling. The little sack in which
the egg is laid sWells to the size of
an ordinary pea and causes so much
soreness and pain that it has to be re-
moved S soon possible in order to
prevent blood poisoning. Many peo-
pie have had to have toe amputated
on account of the infection of this
little insect.
lie IONICC Ill ILIC OpS1SAIIOIl VI -
moving the insect from his foot eX-
perierces much discomfort, for, as III
everything else, there is the proper
way to do it, and the foreigner that is
shrewd will take his cue from the
natives. who evince much skill in this
little surgical operation. When the
itching is first felt the sack may be
easily removed without drawing the
blood, but if allowed to remain the
soreness and swelling make the opera
ton a painful one. Many Americans
have been laid up for months on oc-
count Of these insects, and there are
case in which foot has been
amputated to save life.
To be free from the torments OF
these creatures seems an utter i'm
possibility, since they and the red
feas will find their way under heavy
buckskin leggins and stiff walking
boots The only solution of the prob
lem is to learn from the natives the
trick of removing them. When out
upon expeditions it is not uncommon
to see the natives sit suddenly upon
the ground and begin to operate upon
their toes. There is another creature
boring worm, that sometimes gets
below the skin. It is similar in effect
to the one [ have just described and
may be cut out in the same manner.
Snakes of all descriptions, from the
boa constructor to the common harm
less snake of smallest dimensions
also thrive in the region of Panama
One of the most deadly of these
reptiles infests the trees that over
hang the streams, and when polling VI
the rivers the natives are constantly
on the alert for them. The white
man who wishes to sail on the
streams sits in the middle of the
canoe-"pirague' his Cup
across his knees and shoots as the
natives point out the snakes in the
spreading branches. AS many as &c
of thes large, poisonous snakes have
been shot in a distance of two OF
three miles up the river. There
seems to be no creature of which the
blacks have more fear than they have
of these venomous snakes, and they
will pole away out into the current
rather than go beneath the thick eark
trees. where these enemies to human
life may lurk.
Some of the snakes make a sound