20 AlflMAIi PARASITES 



CHAPTEE II. 



We have given a sketch of the habits, habitats, 

 and appearances of the three animal parasites of 

 the human skin which live upon it, of the femily 

 of pedicuU, We also spoke of the efi'ect upon the 

 cutaneous surface of their seeking nourishment in 

 the skin, the result of the intense itching caused 

 thereby, and the consequences of the irritation 

 from the person's endeavors to allay this. In this 

 chapter we will endeavor to explain how and where 

 these insects deposit their eggs, in what way they 

 can be destroyed as well as the animals themselves, 

 and thus enable those annoyed and chagrined by 

 their presence to rid themselves of them and their 

 effects. 



The head-louse and the crab-louse lay their eggs 

 on the hairs, to which they are very firmly fast- 

 ened, so that endeavoring to remove them will 

 sometimes even pull out the hair itself. They are 

 called nits, and are strung along on the hairs like 

 beads. The pediculus of the head, as it can run 



