1807.] 
be introduced to abolifh this infernal 
traffic, not gradually, as perhaps was 
necellary in the flave-trade, but imme- 
diately, vt et armis. 
But, to the point:—the queftion of 
prevention. “ Principiis objia’ is an 
important maxim: guard agamit firft be- 
ginnings. What is to be done when 
Jleas are in the vicinity, to prevent their 
attacks? A variety of means might here 
be employed, with perfect fafety, and: 
with all imaginable fuccefs: fuch as 
anvinting the body with tar, or brimftone 
ointment ; fumigating the room with ai- 
fafcetida, brimitone, tobacco, &c. 
ft is acknowleged that, notwithftand- 
ing this, we may have fome occafional 
vilitors. What is to be done in this” 
cafe? In general, endeavours are made 
to feize the enemy. ‘This, it mult be 
owned, is often ditficult. The flea is of 
the genus of infects called fahent. In 
this view, his exploits are wonderful. 
Naturalifts inform us, that he is an ab- 
folute unique. No infect or animal can 
take {uch aftonilling leaps, in propor- 
tion to its fize. He is alfo much aflifted 
in this refpect by the acutenefs of his 
vifion. Whether, like the fpider, he has 
a hemifphere of eyes, or a cylinder, in 
common with fome other infects, the fact 
is certain, that he evades our grafp long 
hefore we come in contact with him. He 
farther is defended by his elaftecity. It 
is well known that he has acoat of mail, 
which, like the hide of the rhinoceros, 
may be cannon or piftol-proof. Hence 
the common fentiment, or proverb, which 
we acquire with the firft rudiments of 
our education: “A, B, C; crack a 
Louje, and kill a flea.” ‘The letters are 
from the ancient cabala; and can only 
be underitood by one of the faciety of 
free-mafons, upon opening, by the light 
of a lamp, the nineteenth fec¢:ion of the 
fourth tome of Martinus Scriblerus ; 
provided he have in tke room at the 
time an owl and a black cat, a golden 
ring in one ear, and four leaves of red 
fage, a drachm of camphor, and a 
branch. of fumitory, fulpended at the 
other. But the concluding part of the 
fentenee, which is 2 comment upon the 
former, is fuMicient, and is plainly this: 
that the pellis, or ikin, of the more nau- 
feous infect, together with its body, is 
ef fo vafcular and tender a fubftance, 
that it will readily yield to the prefure 
of the nail; whereas, you mult employ 
more {ejentific means to de“irey his jirft- 
ecizfin, who has been often xnown to 
Answer to a trifling Querist. 
139 
revive, even after apparent death, from 
various caufes; either by the genial 
warmth of the fun-beams, or from the 
wis inertia, the infcrutable energies of 
the celeftial Archaus, which pervade 
every organifed animal, from the body of 
the fublime Newton to that of the invi- 
{ible mite. So that to this infect, more 
than to any other, may be juftly applied 
the memorable motto of the Humane 
Society, “ Luteat fcintillula forfun.” 
But, it will be faid, all this 1s digref- 
fion. Sir, in digreffing, I ouly follow the 
example of many modern authors, fe- 
nators, lawyers, aud divines, who often 
erievoully wander from the point, and 
introduce fubjects which have little or no- 
thing to do with the topic upon which 
they profefs to difeant. 
Having treated of the firft quere to 
the beft of my ability, I fhall be very 
brief in contidering the fecond: What 
wil cure, after it has wounded? 
Sir, I mult here again obierve, that 
the term wounded is mifapplied. The 
flea attacks by pun¢ture, and not by la- 
ceration, which is an effential charac- 
teriftic in the definition of a wound; or 
of a woonde, as every tine lady and petit- 
maitre now pronounces it. 
Now, as to the cure of flea-bites, I 
fhall only propofe a fhort piece of ad- 
vice; which, if more attended. to by 
phyficians of the body natural, and of 
the body politic, would probably pre- 
vent or cure many diforders in both—Leé 
them alone. 
But, that my lucubrations may not 
prove altogether ufelefs to your readers, 
Lihail conclude with the relation of a 
true ftory, very fuitable upon the prefent 
occafion. 
Some years ago, at an annual fair in 
Staffordihire, an itinerant empiric was 
accuftomed to fell a powder for the fpe- 
cific purpofe of “ killing fleas,” which 
he difpofed of to great advantage. I 
lament, that I have none of this powder 
by me, fer the examination of fome of 
our modern chemitts, who would quickly 
analyze it, pro bono publico. No doubt 
it contained fomething fingularly delec~ 
table to the tafte of the animal, as rat- 
catchers entice their prey by the odori- 
ferous feents of mutk and rhodium: yet 
I am confideat any other powder will do 
as weil, if applied in the fame manner. 
“ How am I to ule the powder? faida 
countryman, at one of the fairs above- 
mentioned “* Friend,” quoth the doc- 
tor, “you muft catch the fiea by the 
§ 2 nape 
