102 DIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



direst personal pests with which the sins of man have 

 been visited. All disputes concerning the genus of this 

 insect would have been settled long before Swartz's 

 time, (who first gave a satisfactory description and figure 

 of it, proving it to be a Pulex^ as has been observed 

 above 3 ,) had success attended the patriotic attempt of 

 the Capuchin friar recorded by Walton in his History 

 of St. Domingo, who brought away with him from that 

 island a colony of these animals, which he permitted to 

 establish themselves in one of his feet ; but unfortunately 

 for himself, and for science, the foot intrusted with the 

 precious deposit mortified, was obliged to be amputated, 

 and with all its inhabitants committed to the waves. 

 According to Ulloa, arid his opinion is confirmed by 

 Jussieu, there are two South American species of this 

 mischievous insect. It is described as generally attack- 

 ing the feet and legs b , getting, without being felt, be- 

 tween the skin and the flesh, usually under the nails of 

 the toes, where it nidificates and lays its eggs ; and if 

 timely attention be not paid to it, which, as it occasions 

 no other uneasiness than itching, (the sensation at first, 

 I am assured, is rather pleasing than otherwise,) is some- 

 times neglected, it multiplies to such a degree, as to be 

 attended by the most fatal consequences, often, as in the 

 above instance, rendering amputation necessary, and 

 sometimes causing death c . The female slaves in the 

 West Indies are frequently employed to extract these 



a See above p. 50. 



5 Captain Hancock, late commander of His Majesty's ship the Fou- 

 droyant, to whose friendly exertions I am indebted fj0r one of the 

 finest collections of Brazil insects ever brought to England, informs 

 me that they will attack any exposed part of the body. He had 

 them once in his hand. 



Piso and Margr. Ind. 289. 



