An Insect Virus 



covers it and, being waterproof, guards 

 against the loss of the poison. Finally, a 

 linen bandage keeps the whole in place. 



On the afternoon of the 4th of June 1897, 

 a memorable date for me, I test, as I have 

 just said, the etheric extract of the Procession- 

 ary's droppings. All night long, I feel a vio- 

 lent itching, a burning sensation and shooting 

 pains. On the following day, after twenty 

 hours of contact, I remove the dressing. 



The venomous liquid, too lavishly employed 

 in my fear of failure, has considerably over- 

 flowed the limits of the square of paper. The 

 parts which it has touched and still more the 

 portion covered by the pad are swollen and 

 very red; moreover, in the latter case, the 

 skin is ridged, wrinkled and mortified. It 

 smarts a little and itches; and that is all. 



On the following day, the swelling becomes 

 more pronounced and goes deep into the mus- 

 cles, which, when touched with the finger, 

 throb like an inflamed cheek. The colour is 

 a bright carmine and extends all round the 

 spot which the paper covered. This is due to 

 the escape of some of the liquid. There is a 

 plentiful discharge of serum, oozing from the 

 sore in tiny drops. The smarting and itching 



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