DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4794#0269
nier position, he seized it with a polypus for
ceps; the consequent haemorrhage soon ceased,
and the soldier was perfectly well in a few days.
About twenty soldiers were attacked in the same
way on the march of the army from Syria to
Belbis : gargles of vinegar and salt water were
sufficient to detach such of these animals as
placed themselves constantly in the posterior
fauces ; fumigations of tobacco and the polypus
forceps were necessary in some cases. The
Chief of Brigade, Latour Maubourg, swallowed
two in the deserts of St. Makaine ; they reduced
him to the last state of emaciation and weak-
ness ; and even after detaching these animals,
the convalescence was long and difficult. Citi-
zen Larrey recommends travellers through these
deserts, obliged to drink this water, in which
the presence of these animals is to be appre-
hended, to strain it through a thick and close
cloth, and to add some drops of any acid.
To conclude this catalogue of peculiar incon-
veniences, some writers, it is worthy of remark,
reckon the following as the minor plagues of
Egypt. . '
Rats—in extraordinary abundance, but which
are eaten by the inhabitants of some villages.
Flies—numerous beyond conception.
Fleas—in such quantities, as to disfigure
clean linen entirely in twelve hours.
Lice—so troublesome, that the Mameluke
Beys deemed it no disgrace to pick them off
their persons in public.
Musquitos and Gnats — uncommonly ve-
nomous
ceps; the consequent haemorrhage soon ceased,
and the soldier was perfectly well in a few days.
About twenty soldiers were attacked in the same
way on the march of the army from Syria to
Belbis : gargles of vinegar and salt water were
sufficient to detach such of these animals as
placed themselves constantly in the posterior
fauces ; fumigations of tobacco and the polypus
forceps were necessary in some cases. The
Chief of Brigade, Latour Maubourg, swallowed
two in the deserts of St. Makaine ; they reduced
him to the last state of emaciation and weak-
ness ; and even after detaching these animals,
the convalescence was long and difficult. Citi-
zen Larrey recommends travellers through these
deserts, obliged to drink this water, in which
the presence of these animals is to be appre-
hended, to strain it through a thick and close
cloth, and to add some drops of any acid.
To conclude this catalogue of peculiar incon-
veniences, some writers, it is worthy of remark,
reckon the following as the minor plagues of
Egypt. . '
Rats—in extraordinary abundance, but which
are eaten by the inhabitants of some villages.
Flies—numerous beyond conception.
Fleas—in such quantities, as to disfigure
clean linen entirely in twelve hours.
Lice—so troublesome, that the Mameluke
Beys deemed it no disgrace to pick them off
their persons in public.
Musquitos and Gnats — uncommonly ve-
nomous