The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-08-28

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chigger bites. The itching and burn
ing Of these bites. combined with
the sting from salty perspiration,
make life very uncomfortable and
prevent restful sleep. Farmers often
call this insect the oat or harvest
bug but, under any name. he Is an
abomination.
The chigger is little red bug.
not much bigger than a pinpoint.
which inhabits grass. weeds. oats,
wheat and any low plant. especially
as they ripen and become dry. AS
we walk through the meadows and
grain fields, the bugs sift of the
plants onto our shoes and clothing.
II we sit or lie down on the ground,
they settle all over us.
Burrows Into Skin
After landing on our clothing,
the chigger Immediately gets to
work burrowing in toward the skin.
He can penetrate the meshes Of any
clothing. He buries his head In the
skin at q hair follicle or other pore.
and begins to suck blood. If not dis
turbed, he will withdraw his head
and drop of when he becomes filled
with blood. A little rubbing or
scratching will loosen the body.
leaving the head buried in the skin.
This causes local Inflammation
and intense itching.
Chiggers usually crawl upward
until stopped by garters, belts. or
any tight clothing. Then, they bur-
row in. It usually requires eight to
ten hours for the chigger to become
well settled. A bright red spot ap-
pears and. sometimes, the insect
can be seen as a bright red dot. Due
to scratching and rubbing, these
spots may become infected and
cause severe sores, even causing
fever and real sickness.
By applying a three per cent
tincture of iodine on the spot. or
pure alcohol when 1t is available.
the itching and infection may be
stopped. But when one has hum
dreds Of spots on all parts Of the
body. this application is almost i'm
possible. If, at the first sign Of a
bite, or Immediately after being ex-
posed to chiggers. the body Is given
q brisk scrubbing with strong soap
and water. one may destroy most OF
the bugs.
Many Remedies
Remedies are innumerable. Many
years ago, In Alabama, I had my
first experience with this type Of
misery. / was told that rubbing on
salt lard would destroy the mites.
and this L did, 1t only whetted
their appetites and increased their
desire to dig In.
A little coal oil placed on the top
Of the socks will keep them from
crawling over the strip. but one
cannot saturate all ones clothing
with coal oil. Thousands Of our SOL
der boys must be suffering intense
~ from chigger bites. They march
through grass and weeds, lie down
to sleep wherever they are.
Anything that can be used to dis
courage the bug should be well
coined. We have such thing in
powdered sulphur. II this is sifted
into the socks or shoes, IL will keep
chiggers of the legs. though not of
the body.
Lately, new preparation Is on
the market which is very conven-
lent and efflcacious. It is a gauze
sponge impregnated with soap and
sulphur. The sponge is dipped in
water. and the entire body is bathed
with 1t. One sponging a day Is suf-
hcient. It greatly decreases the
number Of bites, stops the itching,
and prevents infection.
With this precaution. soldiers
who have to wear their clothing for
several days are remarkably free
from bites and itching. The pre-
ventive remedy is called Sulphur
Foam Applicators." Thcy are cheap,
easily carried and used. and can be
obtained at any good drug store.
They we're first devised for the itch,
but are even better for the preven-
ton and cure Of chigger bites.