S6 DIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



lice infinitely more than do the contortions of maggots, 

 So that an Acarus would be deemed a louse much sooner 

 by an unentomological observer than would a maggot. 

 Whether Acari have ever been seen in such numbers as 

 to be mistaken for lice, is the point in question ; and 

 therefore, by itself, cannot be admitted for a valid argu- 

 ment, Though 'Acarus Scabiei does not appear to swarm 

 in ordinary cases, yet this is certainly no reason why 

 other species may not do so. Where it has once made 

 a settlement, how incredibly, and in how short a space 

 of time, does the Siro or cheese-mite multiply ! Acarus 

 Destructor and many other species are equally rapid in 

 their increase. — Millions of lice are said by Lafontaine, 

 whom Hermann calls a very exact describer, to show 

 themselves in Plica polonica, on the third day of the dis- 

 ease a ; but whether the last^mentioned author be correct 

 in thinking it more probable that they are Acari b , I 

 have not the means of judging, 



I shall now produce two instances where Acari were 

 evidently concerned. Dr. Mead, from the German E.phe- 

 merides, relates the miserable case of a French nobleman, 

 from whose eyes, nostrils, mouth, and urinary passage 

 animalcules of a red colour, and excessively minute, 

 broke forth day and night, attended by the most horrible 

 and excruciating pains, and at length occasioned his 

 death. The account further says, that they were pro- 

 duced from his corrupted blood. This was probably a 

 fancy originating in their red colour: but the whole his- 

 tory, whether we consider the size and colour of the ani- 

 mals, or the places from which they issue, is inapplicable 



■ Trmies de Chirurgk, Sec. Leipsig. 1792. b Mem. Apterolog. 1% 



