346 
THE BRUSH TICK. 
cation of a scab lotion, in which mercurial preparations were 
compounded, however, soon destroyed these annoyances, arid 
their existence on any station is now very doubtful. But 
our chief object for consideration partakes of a nature wholly 
different from the British sheep tick. Far worse. It is 
usually termed the brush tick, being commonly found upon 
the banks of creeks, or rivers, where the land is covered with 
thick scrub, or brush-wood, on the Clarence, Richmond, and 
other districts of w r arm climes. The generic Latin name 
cannot conveniently be given, just because none of us in this 
quarter have got the laming sufficient to give it. But we 
can tell that it is a burrowing creature, and when opportunity 
offers it digs into the fleshy parts of dogs, pigs, sheep, &c., 
and sometimes spares not man himself. The animals seized 
seem to be affected with paralysis, and the hind limbs first lose 
their pow T ers. If the insect is not discovered and destroyed, 
a torpor soon pervades the whole system, which eventually 
terminates with death. A young man gave the following 
account of the sensations he felt when labouring under the 
influence of this singular creature, which had got somehow 
fixed in the scalp of his head. He experienced a strange 
sensation that something w^as wrong w r ith him, but he could 
not determine what it was. Dullness, wdth an increasing 
disposition to sleepiness, attended with a vague idea that all 
w^as not right about his head ; legs stiff, and requiring strong 
efforts to make them bear him about ; were prevalent symp- 
toms, the last of which created a supicion that the villain tick 
might be the real cause. His was a tick-lish case indeed. 
Search was accordingly made among the hair of his head, and 
sure enough the insect w r as discovered burrowing as fast as 
practicable, under the scalp; but unceremoniously they 
ejected and killed it, and the young man soon perfectly 
recovered. Tell us ye physiologists, entomologists, phy- 
sicians, surgeons, naturalists, & c., how r can ye account for the 
peculiar effects produced by this brush tick? Are they gal- 
vanic ? or — or — or — will ye agree about it, or account for it 
at all ? Its mode of operation may not be compared to the 
West Indian chigre, which usually produces running ulcers 
in a short time. No such ulcers have been discovered from 
the action of this brush tick, although that such effects may 
ensue is not denied, but never witnessed. A circumstance 
lives in my recollection not to be easily forgotten. Calling, 
in my peregrinations, at a shepherd’s hut, considerable sur- 
prise was expressed at the sight of eight pigs about six 
months old, all extended around his hearth, so torpid that 
they only gave an occasional faint grunt. They were all 
