28 ANIMAL PARASITES 



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rubbed. Some of the ointments, though not so 

 cleanly to apply, are more effectual than the pow- 

 ders in destroying this insect ; and washing them 

 off with strong soap, and hard rubbing, breaks 

 down the egg-shells, and prevents the young from 

 hatching:. Thorousjhness and care are the secret 

 of success. Any portion of the haired portion of 

 the body neglected, may be the seat of continued 

 contagion. The eyelashes even do not escape, 

 and the figures we have given are drawn 

 from the eggs of the pediculus pubis, found on 

 the lashes. ^Ye can understand now how it is 

 that some tribes of men whose habits are partic- 

 ularly uncleanly, still manage to be comparatively 

 free of these vermin. It is because they use 

 strong-smelling fats and ointments for smearing 

 the surftice of the body, and rubbing into the hair 

 in their manner of dressing it. Perhaps the ne- 

 cessity of some defence for the bod}', so much 

 exposed in hot climates from the attacks of in- 

 sects, originated the use of many ointments among 

 savage tribes, especially those living in the tropics. 

 In speaking of the pediculus vestimenti, or 

 clothes-louse, we said, when the person infested 

 had removed his clothes, he had removed the 



