THE CHIGOE FLEA. 177 



fragrance are both gone, and the blossom, lately so 

 gorgeous, possesses no more of either than may be 

 pretended to by a boiled cabbage. 



THE CHIGOE FLEA. 



May 24th. — About this time the Chigoe or Jigger 

 {Pulex penetrans) is numerous and very annoying. 

 These parasitic Fleas may be seen hopping about 

 among the dust of sheds and similar places, and the 

 naked feet of the negroes suffer constantly from their 

 attacks. But even the stockings and shoes of Euro- 

 peans are not proof against the insidious assaults of 

 this tiny flea. On several occasions I have found 

 them ensconced in my feet ; to-day I discovered that 

 one had chosen the bend of my little toe as the scene 

 of its domestic economy. The negroes, from mutual 

 practice on each other, are quick at discovering, and 

 skilful in extracting them ; and, accordingly, to one 

 of my servant lads I entrusted the operation. Tak- 

 ing my foot on his knee, he began with a sharp 

 needle to open and widen the minute orifice in the 

 epidermis, between which and the cutis the swollen 

 body of the pregnant female had taken its place. 

 Slowly and cautiously the lad exposed the depre- 

 dator, giving no pain, and not drawing the least drop 

 of blood, until at length he removed the insect un- 

 injured. The great danger to be guarded against 

 is the rupture of the delicate skin of the Jigger's 

 abdomen, stretched and attenuated as it is by the 

 great increase of its contents. If this should occur, 

 I 5 



