Medicine: 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...

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