Jungle Leeches. 



105 



however, suffered so severely from the attacks of 

 jungle leeches, that it became impossible for themto 

 continue their work. These leeches are one of the 

 greatest pests met with by the planter in the forest 

 districts ; frequenting shady, damp situations, they 

 lie in wait for and at once attack every passer-by, 

 laying hold, in batches of half a dozen at a time, of 

 the calves of the leg and ancles. They are smaller 

 than the medicinal leech, and must have some 

 poisonous property, their bite causing intense itch- 

 ing and irritation, and being even apt to fester and 

 produce troublesome sores. To protect themselves 

 against this annoyance, planters and others whose 

 calling necessitates their frequenting damp jungles, 

 are obliged to wear " leech gaiters," a kind of over- 

 all stocking of linen or cotton material, going in- 

 side the boot, but tied over the trousers below the 

 knee. The best remedy for the acute itching 

 caused by the bite of the jungle leech is to rub in 

 common salt ; or, should this fail to give relief, to 

 burn the part with caustic. 



LIB R A K i 



UN1VKKS1TY OF 



CALIFORNIA. 



V 



