[PW] A curious dye

[John P. Dyson]

Quoting Peter Macinnis <petermacinnis at ozemail.com.au>:

> My source is 'Scientific American, 16 March, 1859, page 240.
>
> A snippet reports that a chemist in Melbourne had developed a dye from
> "those nocturnal tormentors which infest bedding in many localities,
> have but one use, 'to teach mankind humility'."
>
> I assume that this refers either to fleas or to bedbugs, and I am
> guessing that it was probably bedbugs.  I assume further that 'to teach
> mankind humility' is a literary allusion, but it has eluded me.
>
> I am under the delusion that some kind soul may recognise the elusive
> and for now, illusory allusion, and may be willing to elucidate.
>
> cheers


Peter, check out Aristophanes' speech in Plato's _Symposium_.

Cheersback,

John Dyson