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CHAPTER XVI. 

 LEECHES AND ARTHROPODS. 



Hirudinea (Leeches). A group of segmented worms 

 allied to the Chcetopoda. Very numerous species are 

 known, but few of them attack man readily. 



According to their habits they may be divided into two 

 classes those living in water and those living on land, 

 usually in damp jungle country. Those living in water 

 may not only attack externally, but if swallowed may fix 

 themselves on the pharynx, nasal cavities, or oesophagus 

 or trachea, and cause considerable trouble. To this group 

 belongs the Limnatis nilotica. 



Land leeches are prevalent in Asiatic jungle and rarely 

 met with in American and African jungle. They may be 

 very numerous, and are found on leaves, twigs, or else- 

 where, awaiting an opportunity to attack some mammal. 

 They are very active, and can pass through narrow 

 orifices, such as the lace-holes of a boot, and will climb 

 rapidly on the surface of, or between, clothes till they 

 find an aperture. The bite is painless, and frequently the 

 first thing noticed is that the boots are full of blood. 



Beyond the loss of blood, which may be serious when 

 many leeches have attacked a man, and the liability to 

 bleeding from the bite, little trouble is caused. In some 

 instances, and more commonly with some species of 

 leeches than others, much inflammation, and even the 

 formation of local sloughs, may occur. Some persons 

 are much more liable to be attacked than others, and the 

 liability to sloughing or irritation at the seat of the bite 

 also varies in different people. The application of a 

 solution of salt will usually cause the leeches to loosen 



