80 



DIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



copsylla penetrans) one of the direst personal pests with which 

 the sins of man have been visited. All disputes concerning 

 the genus of this insect would have been settled long before 

 Swartz's time (who first gave a satisfactory description and 

 figure of it, proving it to be a Pulex, as has been observed 

 above), had success attended the patriotic attempt of the 

 Capuchin friar recorded by Walton in his History of St. 

 Domingo, who brought away with him from that island a 

 colony of these animals, which he permitted to establish 

 themselves in one of his feet ; but unfortunately for himself, 

 and for science, the foot intrusted with the precious deposit 

 mortified, was obliged to be amputated, and with all its in- 

 habitants committed to the waves. According to UUoa, and 

 his opinion is confirmed by Jussieu, there are two South 

 American species of this mischievous insect. It is described 

 as generally attacking the feet and legs^, getting, without 

 being felt, between the skin and the flesh, usually under the 

 nails of the toes, where it nidificates and lays its eggs, which 

 previously swell out the abdomen to a great size ; and if 

 timely attention be not paid to it, which, as it occasions no 

 other uneasiness than itching (the sensation at first, I am as- 

 sured, is rather pleasing than otherwise), is sometimes ne- 

 glected, it multiplies to such a degree, as to be attended by 

 the most fatal consequences, often, as in the above instance, 

 rendering amputation necessary, and sometimes causing 

 death. 2 The female slaves in the West Indies are frequently 

 employed to extract these pests, which they do with uncom- 

 mon dexterity, Yarico, so celebrated in prose and verse, 

 performed this kind office for honest Ligon, who says, in his 

 History of Barbadoes, " I have had ten ( Chegoes) taken out 

 out of my feet in a morning, by the most unfortunate Yarico, 

 an Indian woman." ^ Humboldt observes, that the whites 

 born in the torrid zone walk barefoot with impunity in the 

 same apartment were a European recently landed is exposed 

 to the attack of this animal. The Nigua therefore distin- 

 guishes what the most delicate chemical analysis could not 



1 Captain Hancock, late commander of His Majesty's ship the Foudroyant, 

 to whose friendly exertions I am indebted for one of the finest collections of 

 Brazil insects ever brought to England, informs me that they will attack any 

 exposed part of the body. He had them once in his hand. 



Piso and Margr. Ind. 289. 3 P. 65. 



