The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-11
HARVEST DISEASE DUE.

vest disease, as it is commonly known,
is one of the most annoying and
troublesome complaints of the sum-
mer season, according to bulletin is
sued by the United States public
health service. 1t is of frequent oc-
currence, seldom recognized, and
widely disseminated. The disease is
generally ascribed to errors of diet,
| over-exertion or poisoning, and but
| few of the afflicted are aware that the
cause of their suffering is a minute
six-Iegged insect. The digger" "chig-
GER or harvest mite, which occasions
this vexatious summer eruption be-
longs to the mite family. This in
itself is sufficient to cause some doubt
in the minds of the enlightened. mas
much as several other members of the
family have gained fame through mis-
behavior. The itch mite is notorious
example. 1t has been with us since
history began and still afflicts the hui
man race. The straw mite, only re-
Gently discovered is also acquiring
somewhat of a reputation. The adult
jigger is harmless. 1t apparently loves
the freedom of the woods and open
fields, attaching itself to leaves and
grasses and utterly ignoring all hu-
| man intruders. The young are hatch
ed in July and August and appear
from the eggs as minute orange-red
larvae. For some inexplicable reason
they show a considerable prediction
for human society. willingly forsaking
their natural habitat for the I'M
certainties of life with man. When
lodged upon the skin they Immediate
ly select a favorable site and rapidly
begin to penetrate the outer layers by
burrowing. The trouble begins at this
stage. The irritation, at first mild, be-
comes intense as the burrowing pro-
ceeds and is accompanied by redness,
swelling and inflammation. Frequent
ly the eruption resembles that of hives
or even eczema and the itching is so
severe that LESSONS due to violent
scratching may ensue. The irritation
may be confined to particular portions
of the body or become widespread.
Depending upon the number of larvae
entrenching themselves, the suffering
may be acute, preventing sleep and
even leading to other disturbances,
while at the best the degree of I'M
comfortableness is such as to demand
remedial measures. Just why the
larvae exhibit burrowing proclivities
in this manner is unknown; their &C
ton is apparently without reason as
they invariably perish within a few
days after commencing their nefarious
attack. Their demise IS most welcome
to the sufferer. AS with other para
site diseases, the susceptibility of in
dividuals varies considerably, some
persons not suffering even when thor
oughly exposed. Early treatment of
jigger rash or trombidiosis, as it is
known, is essential. If the condition
is recognized at its onset the sufferer
can almost invariably point with ex-
actness to the burrowing sites and fire.
quently the disappearing eXtremities
of the intruders may be observed. A
needle. sterilized by boiling, may be
used to pluck the invaders from their
dermal intrenchments, and even if the
search proves unsuccessful, the coun-
Perturbation produced by the instru-
ment is pleasurable, and affords great
enjoyment to the afflicted. If the
swelling or oedema OF the skin is con-
siderable, or if the LESSONS are not re-
cent, search will prove futile as the
larvae are already safely buried. One
can then only hope for an early termi-
nation of their activities, this usually
requiring from five to seven days.
Several extremely useful preparations
are prescribed by physicians not only
to kill the mites but to reduce the ir-
ritation and relieve the itching. Bath
ing directly after exposure is advisable
in order to drown the parasites. The
best treatment is, however, the avoid
ance of the haunts of the tormentors.