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ticks-art - 1/24/92

"Tick...tick...tick, Pennsic Terrorists" by Baron Dur of Hidden Mountain.

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Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous

Stefan at florilegium.org

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From: DEW at PSUECLB.BITNET

Date: 22 Jul 91 13:32:00 GMT

Organization: The Internet

TICK...TICK...TICK

PENNSIC TERRORISTS

As a regular warrior of the Wars and a hunting master of these

same woods, I often engage the menaces which lurk beside the

trails. As yet, they have not brought me down for I am wary of

their ways. However, I fear many of the campfollowers and un-

seasoned warriors may be ensnared unwittingly. Furthermore,

without proper training in the combat of these dangers places

them and those who aid them at greater risk.

The terrorists of which I speak are three in number, and are

present along all wooded paths of these forests. Their names:

Brown, American Dog, and Deer (Tick). These highway men match

the peak of their activity coincident with the months of battle.

Of the three, the most likely to attack man is American Dog, and

he may be found on any pet anywhere.

Some characteristics of these terrorists are as follows: All are

attracted by the carbon dioxide of the victims breath. Sensing

this, they will move from the bush or branch from where they rest

towards its source. Once aboard the victim, they may mate and

the female will lay her eggs before feeding. Then, they will

penetrate the skin with their mouth parts, which the victim never

feels. Next, a cement is secreted which bonds the mouth parts to

the skin ("stuck like a tick").

The feeding tick uses an enzyme to break down the blood, and if

the tick is diseased, this enzyme can transmit the disease to the

host. (It is uncommon for dogs to be infected with these

diseases.) These include such maladies as Rocky Mountain spotted

fever and Lyme disease (common in the East Kingdom, by moving

into Atlantia and the Middle as well.) Rare, but still included

are tick paralysis and tularemia though uncommon in humans.

Removal of these pests is hazardous, because of the disease

bearing enzymes and secretions. Tweezers should be used to hold

and gently pull the tick off the victim. this will hopefully

remove the embedded mouthparts as well. If tweezers are not

available, tissue paper or disposable gloves may be used instead.

Extreme care should be observed when removing ticks bloated with

blood, so as not to squash the beastie and spread diseases

contained in its (or yours) bodily fluids.

Once the tick is removed, the area must be washed with soap and

covered with antiseptic. If the bite becomes infected or the

victim ill, a doctor should be notified immediately.

Prevention (and education) is the best medicine that can be

proscribed to combat these fiends. As they tend to concentrate

along paths frequented by potential hosts, appropriate attire is

the first line of defense. Long sleaves, trousers, boots, and a

hat are strongly recommended. Ticks initially crawl into a

person's clothes and not the skin. It will then search for an

exposed area on the victims body.

It takes a tick about two hours to get oriented on the victim.

Then, it will generally move to head, underarms, waist or groin

as feeding sites. Repellents applied to the skin will discourage

them from attaching themselves. From experience, some

repellants will cause feeding ticks to detach, and they may

simply be washed off.

Man is not a natural host for these villans. However, children

tend to be at risk, as they like to play in areas generally

inhabited by these pests. Parents would be wise to regularly and

often inspect their kinder so that they may not suffer overlong.

On a more factual note, ticks are not insects. They are more

closely related to mites and spiders. Adult ticks have eight

legs, not six as do insects. Those persons who use period "straw

ticks" for their rope beds are not subject to attacks by ticks,

but by mites. I'm aware that some herbs are natural repellants

to these buggers, but I'm not sure which ones, You could add

these herbs as well as other sweet smelling ones to the mix of

straw and have a truly fine "bower" for a bed.

Baron Dur of Hidden Mountain

(ask Arnoff for my bio.)

Dale E. Walter |Dur of Hidden Mountain

dew at ecl.psu.edu |Schloss Zwerg, Eagle's Pass of the War Road, somewhere in

|the East