528 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



If the Chigoe be allowed to remain, the results are disastrous. 

 Swellings make their appearance among the limbs, the glands be- 

 come affected, and if the cause is permitted to remain undisturbed, 

 mortification takes place, and the sufferer dies. So the red-pepper 

 discipline, severe as it may be, is an absolute necessity with those 

 who are unable to reason rightly, or to exercise forethought for 

 the future. Every evening the negro quarter of the villages is 

 rendered inharmonious by the outcries of the children who have 

 neglected to report themselves in proper time, and who, in conse- 

 quence, are suffering the penalty of their negligence. 



There are some insects which produce upon animals certain 

 swellings which are analogous to the galls upon trees. Such, for 

 example, is the well-known Breeze Fly (CEstrus bovis), which is 

 so troublesome to cattle. The larvse of this insect live under the 

 skin of the animal, and in some manner raise a large swelling, 

 that is always filled with a secretion on which they live. In fact, 

 the swelling is a gall produced on an animal instead of a plant, 

 and the inclosed insect feeds in a similar manner upon the abnor- 

 mal secretion which is induced by the irritation of its presence. 



The larvas are fat, soft, oval-bodied creatures, and are notable 

 for the flattened end of the tail, on which are placed two large 

 spiracles or breathing-holes. 



Although the larva which inhabits the vegetable gall seems to 

 have but small need of air, and to all appearance can exist with- 

 out any apparent channel of communication with the external at- 

 mosphere, such is not the case with the inhabitant of the animal 

 gall. An opening is always preserved in the upper part of the 

 swelling, and the tail of the grub is tightly pressed against the 

 aperture so as to insure a constant supply of air. 



In the months of May and June these swellings may be found 

 in great plenty. They are mostly seen upon young cattle, and, 

 as a general rule, are situated close to the spine. So common 

 indeed are they, that out of a whole farm-stock of cattle I have 

 seen almost every cow under the age of four years attacked by 

 the Breeze Fly, and counted from two or three to twelve or four- 

 teen upon a single animal. It is said that as many as forty have 

 been detected upon a single cow, but such an event has not come 

 within my own observation. 



The swellings caused by the Breeze Fly are called Wurbles, or 

 Wornils, and can be easily detected by passing the hand along 



