CHAP. VI. INJURIOUS INSECTS. SCORPION. 213 



propriated to bugs, &c., fed at the public expense. 

 " The overseers of the hospital," says our author, 

 " frequently hire beggars from the streets, for a stipu- 

 lated sum, to pass a night among the fleas, lice, and 

 bugs, on the express condition of suffering them to en- 

 joy their feast without molestation." * 



(226.) But there are other apterous or wingless in- 

 sects, which inflict severe injuries upon man, without 

 any intention of feeding upon his blood. The most 

 prominent of these are the two tribes of scorpions and 

 centipedes. The very aspect of these reptile insects 

 is sufficient to make us start back with fear and 

 horror : both are more especially inhabitants of 

 warm climates. The form of a scorpion is, indeed, 

 terrific, and is a complete personification of malignity. 

 The ancients have given us marvellous accounts of 

 these beings. Aristotle relates the superstitious belief 

 that armies were employed for several days in de- 

 stroying them ; and Pliny affirms that they depopu- 

 lated whole countries. These, of course, are fables ; 

 but the enormous size to which these terrific insects 

 attain, and their poisonous nature, may well admit or" 

 poetic embellishment. Mr. Kirby mentions that they 

 sometimes attain a foot in length, probably on the 

 anthority of some traveller, for we have never seen 

 them longer than seven inches. The poison is placed 

 in the tail. In ordinary cases, it produces numbness in 

 various parts of the body, tumours on the tongue, and 

 severe fever. The only means of saving the lives of 

 our soldiers, who were stung by those of Egypt, was 

 the amputation of the wounded limb. Others, still 

 more deadly, found both in South America, Ceylon, 

 and Africa, are asserted, by travellers in all these 

 countries, to be capable of killing those whom they 

 sting. Of all animals the scorpion, in its own nature, 

 is the most cruel and ferocious. They carry on a war 

 of extermination among themselves ; and are even said 



Orient. Mem. 



p 3 



