An Insect Virus 



hand, to interrogate the bird, whose reply will 

 suffice. I accept what is offered by chance: an 

 insectivorous bird, the Swallow, and a grami- 

 nivorous bird, the Goldfinch. Well, their uri- 

 nary dejections, when carefully separated 

 from the digestive residua, have not the 

 slightest stinging effect. The virus that causes 

 itching is independent therefore of uric acid. 

 It accompanies it in the insect class, without 

 being its invariable concomitant every else- 

 where. 



A last step remains for us to take, namely, 

 to isolate the stinging element and to obtain 

 it in quantities permitting of precise enquiries 

 into its nature and properties. It seems to 

 me that medical science might turn to account 

 a material whose energy rivals that of can- 

 tharides, if it does not exceed it. The quest- 

 ion appeals to me. I would gladly return to 

 my beloved chemistry; but I should want 

 reagents, apparatus, a laboratory, a whole 

 costly arsenal of which I must not dream, af- 

 flicted as I am with a terrible ailment: impe- 

 cuniosity, the searcher's habitual lot. 



185 



