TROPICAL FORESTS 
73 
the G. I. insecticide powder or coconut oil, to tie the bottoms of 
your trousers around your shoe tops, and after exposure to 
sponge yourself off with alcohol or some disinfectant not too 
irritating to the skin. A plain bath with soap helps if it is 
taken soon after you have been in the bush. The use of alcohol 
or similar solutions probably would depend on your arriving 
at a properly equipped base within a short time after exposure. 
The true chigger, which is abundant in the American tropics 
and in parts of West Africa and India, is a small kind of flea. 
In addition to a fondness for men this flea also attacks animals, 
both tame and wild, and has a particular affinity for pigs. 
Hence it is likely to be present around any native habitations 
in those areas where it is common and where pigs are a part 
of the domestic scene. Chiggers bite like other fleas, but the 
female has the further unpleasant habit of burrowing into the 
skin, usually of the feet under the toenails, where in the course 
of a few days it swells to the size of a small pea and can be 
recognized as a whitish spot with a dark brown spot in the 
center. Prompt removal with a sterile needle or knife point 
(one that has been held in the flame of a match) is advised, as 
neglect may result in poisoning the whole system. As soon 
as you have removed the chigger, paint the place with iodine and 
cover with a protective dressing. 
In the American tropics you may be bothered by wood ticks. 
They are small, dark red or brown and may be numerous in 
vegetation. They feed by burying the head and sucking blood. 
As a rule they do not take hold for several hours after getting 
on you and by carefully looking yourself over from time to time 
you can see and pick them off before they bite. You can remove 
them between your thumb and the point of a knife pressed 
