“And kraw-kraw,” says another Old Coaster, coming up behind him. “Why, there was my friend So-and-so——”
“I’ve already said kraw-kraw,” says the other, and he passes on to the next finger.
“There’s Portuguese itch. Maybe you think you know what itch is, but you don’t if you’ve never had the Portuguese itch of the coast.
“There’s the Guinea worm. It favours the leg and is sometimes ten feet long. You may possibly get it out if you don’t try to wind it from the tail; but anyway it leaves a wound that doesn’t heal in this climate.
“There’s enlarged spleen. There’s——”
“Kraw-kraw,” says another arrival. “Why, there was So-and-so——”
“I said kraw-kraw,” answers the leader.
“There’s smallpox—in frequent epidemics,” he continues.
“And there are so many other parasites feeding on a man, inside and out, that one who has lived on this coast for several years ought to be able to furnish in his own body a complete course for a class of medical students.”
“Did you mention kraw-kraw?” says a late arrival.