The Life of the Caterpillar 



commend a less generous dose. Lastly, the 

 square of paper, that novel sort of mustard- 

 plaster, is applied to the under surface of the 

 fore-arm. A thin waterproof sheeting covers 

 it, to prevent it from drying too rapidly; and 

 a bandage holds it in place. 



For the space of ten hours, I feel nothing; 

 then I experience an increasing itch and a 

 burning sensation acute enough to keep me 

 awake for the greater part of the night. Next 

 day, after twenty-four hours of contact, the 

 poultice is removed. A red mark, slightly 

 swollen and very clearly outlined, occu- 

 pies the square which the poisoned paper 

 covered. 



The skin feels sore, as though it had been 

 cauterized, and looks as rough as shagreen. 

 From each of its tiny pustules trickles a drop 

 of serous fluid, which hardens into a substance 

 similar in colour to gum-arabic. This oozing 

 continues for a couple of days and more. 

 Then the inflamation abates; the pain, hitherto 

 very trying, quiets down; the skin dries and 

 comes off in little flakes. All is over, except 

 the red mark, which remains for a long time, 

 so tenacious in its effects is this extract of 

 Processionary. Three weeks after the ex- 



142 



