THE TICKS. 47I 



the skia and the flesh without its being felt, and ge- 

 nerally under the nails of the toes; where, while it 

 feeds, it keeps growing till it becomes of the size of a 

 large pea, causing no further pain than a disagree- 

 able itching. In process of time it appears in the 

 form of a small bladder, in which are deposited 

 thousands of eggs or nits, and which, if it breaks, 

 produce so many young Chigoes, that in course of 

 time create running ulcers, which are often ot very 

 dangerous consequence to the patient : so much so, 

 indeed, that he knew a soldier, the soles of whose feet 

 were obliged to be cut away before he could re- 

 cover ; and some men have lost their limbs by am- 

 putation — nay, even their lives, by having neglected 

 in time to root out these abominable vermin. The 

 moment, therefore, that a redness and itching, more 

 than usual, is perceived, it is time to extract the 

 Chigoe that occasions them. This is done with a 

 sharp-pointed needle, at which the black girls are ex- 

 tremely dexterous, taking care not to occasion un- 

 necessary pain, and to prevent the chigoe or blad- 

 der from breaking in the wound. Tobacco ashes 

 are put into the orifice, by which, in a little time, the 

 sore is perfectly healed." 



THE TICKS. 



These troublesome insects live chiefly on other 

 animals; some of them, however, inhabit the water, 



Hh 4 



