CHAP. VI. INSECTS FEEDING ON MAN. 209 



scourge ; every precaution which proved efficacious to 

 prevent the infection was of a nature to destroy insect 

 life : the most contaminated substance, if soaked in 

 water, could be taken out and handled with impunity. 

 Oil is the most subtle poison to the insect world ; and 

 oil is the most efficacious remedy* against receiving the 

 plague. Paper, again, is a powerful conductor; but 

 if that paper is, in the first instance, either fumigated, 

 or passed through water, either of which processes 

 will destroy insects, it may be handled with perfect 

 security. These facts we have personally ascertained. 

 (223.) Scarcely less horrible than death from the 

 plague, are two instances quoted by Mr. Kirby, from 

 good authority. One is the miserable case of a French 

 nobleman, from whose eyes, nostrils, and mouth, red- 

 coloured animalcules, excessively small, broke forth day 

 and night, attended by the most horrible and ex- 

 cruciating pains ; and, at length, occasioned his death. 

 The other case is recorded by Moffat, of Lady Penrud- 

 dock, concerning whom he expressly tells us that Acari 

 swarmed in every part of her body, her head, eyes, 

 nose, lips, gums, the soles of her feet, c., tormenting 

 her day and night ; till, in spite of every remedy, all 

 the flesh of her body being consumed, she was, at 

 length, relieved by death from this terrible state of 

 suffering. Moffat attributes this horrible disease to the 

 free use of goat's milk ! no doubt ignorant that a 

 large portion of the peasantry of Southern Europe know 

 no other milk than 1 that of goats. In Sicily, more 

 especially, such is the fact ; for, during eight years' 

 residence in that island, we scarcely remember to have 

 tasted the milk of cows more than once or twice. We 

 need not dwell longer on these details painful as they 

 must be to every compassionate mind. They teach us, 

 however, a great moral lesson. Nothing is more ini- 

 mical to the best interests of man, or more offensive to 

 his Maker, than pride ; and, to punish this, the Almighty 

 has manifestly made these vile and loathsome insects, 

 to be the instruments of his displeasure. Some of the 

 p 



