Jungle Surgery

Out of the tangled jungles of the Peruvian (upper) Amazon emerged last week a botanical expedition of the Field Museum, Chicago. Some items of medical interest forwarded by Llewelyn Williams, leader of the party:

Surgical Ants. When Indian warriors return home after inter-tribal clashes, tribeswomen anesthetize their wounds with ginger. Beside the "doctor" is a jar containing a species of ferocious, strong-jawed ants. After drawing the lips of the wound together, the "doctor" holds an ant close to the wound, lets it bite. If and when the mandibles strike on each side of the wound, the ant's body is snipped off. The death grip of the head holds the wound together. Often as many as six ants are used on large wounds. Thus drawn together the wound is smeared with a weed-pulp paste, bandaged with dried banana leaves.

Thorn Sutures. When wounds are too large for the biting ants, a thorn is thrust through the two sides. A string fastened around the protruding ends draws the wound together.

Burrowing Worm. Also found was a worm which burrows into the human leg, like a hookworm. The boil-like infection which it causes finally breaks, leaves the head of the worm protruding. Any attempt to pull it out suddenly ends disastrously, as the worm breaks in the body. Natives draw out these entozoa, often ten feet long, a few inches per day, reeling them on sticks as they emerge.

Burrowing Fleas, which dig into man's flesh, become distended with a huge number of eggs. The sufferer works about the prospective flea family with a thorn, carefully removes the parent flea. Unless great care is taken the body will be broken, the operation rendered useless. Often a salve made from crushed ants is applied to such open wounds.

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