MUIRHEAD`S MYSTERIES:INTRODUCING SOUTH AMERICA`S `DEVIL-STICKER`

The other day whilst browsing through a journal called The Manchester Iris , which ran to only two volumes (at least I could only find volumes 1 and 2 on Google), I came across a reference to the Devil-Sticker, a highly unpleasant leech of some sort. I considered it interesting enough to transcribe the whole item about it here. On looking up `Devil-Sticker' on Google, unsurprisingly enough I came across…a whole load of cute stickers of old Nick! So no light on the matter there. As far as I know, the Devil-Sticker is no known animal, but this was 188 years ago. If this is a known animal it must be South America`s weirdest, straight from the censored files of the CFZ!

VARIETIES

THE DEVIL-STICKER OF SOUTH AMERICA

In many of the huts or habitations in the Indian villages passing up the great rivers, is to be found the devil-sticker. It is of a soft,spungy nature and smooth skin, not unlike the large slug of England. It is brought into the hut with the fire wood, or it may creep in from the outside unperceived. It, however, crawls up the side wall, and getting on the edge of the rafters of the ceiling, to which it adheres, it looks like a small ball, or,more properly, like the slug coiled up. It is frequently known to drop from its hold without being molested, and wherever it falls it throws out from its body five or six fangs, which are barbed like a fish hook, and into whatever softer material than brick or stone it chances to fall, these fangs enter; nor can be removed unless by cutting the animal off, and picking the prongs out of the substance into which they are so firmly fastened. When they fall on the persons of those who happen to sit or stand underneath, the consequence is dreadful. I saw one man, who an hour or two before had one of these devils alight on his hand and he was obliged to have it cut off, and the claws and fangs removed by picking them out with the point of a large needle. His hand was immoderately swelled, and very painful; but an immersion in warm oil or fat removed the pain, and restored the hand to its usual appearance. (1)

The Manchester Iris vol.1 October 5th 1822 p.287

In Chester, England, there is a bookshop called Gildas Books, 2 City Walls, Northgate, Chester CH1 2JG (01244 311910) that has a copy of Phenomena A Book of Wonders by Rickard and Michell for £5, not including postage.
Their e-mail address is gildas.books@btconnect.com

Seeing as we have just had a general election, I present to you-

Talking Heads

Don`t Worry About the Government


I see the clouds that move across the sky
I see the wind that moves the clouds away
It moves the clouds over by the building
I pick the building that I want to live in

I smell the pine trees and the peaches in the woods
I see the pinecones that fall by the highway
That`s the highway that goes to the building
I pick the building that I want to live in……..

Some civil servants are just like my loved ones
They work so hard and they try to be strong
I`m a lucky guy to live in my building
They all need buildings to help them along