TICK

26th March 2024

Photo Credit: ErikKarits (Getty Images), CANVA

QUOTATION

Would the fountain of your mind were clear again,

that I might water an ass at it. I had rather be a

tick in a sheep than such a valiant ignorance.

THERSITES: Troilus and Cressida, Act 3, Scene 3

TICK (Ixodes ricinus)

Thersites, accomplished insulter, uses the Tick to indicate his contempt. Ticks are parasitic insects that live on the blood of mammals including sheep and humans.

Moffat in his Theatre of Insects has a long description of the habitats and habits of Ticks (Tikes) as well as some supposed remedies made using the blood taken from Ticks (don’t try these at home…).

Ticks can carry and spread Lyme disease as well as Tick-borne Encephalitis. There is a range of advice for preventing and treating Tick bites.

More Information

Folger Shakespeare: Search Shakespeare’s Works

Lyme Disease UK: Visit Site

Moffat, Theatre of Insects in Topsell, E. 1607 A History of Four-footed Beasts (accessed via Archive.org)