Strangers in the Night

Like many other third world countries, one of the constants in Nigeria is the lack of reliable electricity. For example, Laurie tried to run her tiny European style washing machine over twenty times since the early am before there was finally enough electricity around 9pm to run this single load. Those who can afford it have backup systems, consisting of generators and/or a 12 volt truck battery. At other times there can be excessive voltage resulting in fans spinning wildly, appliances alarming loudly, and the everpresent risk of computer death.

I find it most disconcerting when the electricity goes out at night if I have not yet inventoried with which critters I am sharing my sleeping space...in the complete darkness. Thus, I like most Nigerian residents, keep a flashlight with me at all times. The possibilities for roommates include cockroaches, mice, lizards, and the ever present malaria bearing mosquitoes. As long as there are no scorpions, large spiders, or snakes I find I can drift off to sleep.

Such encounters with creepy critters are more prevalent in the bush. Several days earlier I went to Miango, a somewhat rural area, to do a retina exam on a Texan named Tim M. (last name withheld in case HIPPA's tentacles extend into the African bush). He described a series of unfortunate events with snakes and scorpions that I found quite remarkable.

A week earlier his two dachsunds had been attacked by a spitting cornea resulting in severe corneal edema and transient blindness. The spitting cobra was noted by the water cooler, and was about 8 feet long. They can throw their venom ten to twelve feet. (There is a patient in the Kano eye hospital who was permanently blinded from a spitting cobra). The dogs had just recovered their vision when they were attacked by a rabid dog several days ago. Tim had also spotted a 6 inch long scorpion in the bathroom the previous night. Further, he had seen a tree viper drop down onto his roof and then into his attic several days earlier. His encounter with such intruders was not unique as his neighbor had found a puff adder in his house yesterday as well.

These events did not seem to faze Tim and his family. (I am not sure about the dogs). Tim is no stranger to danger--ten years earlier he had been held hostage for ransom in El Salvador! His past history also includes eating off a cow carcass for a week in Zambia. The cow was slaughtered in his honor by a village chief and then left in the field (no refrigerators in the bush) where it was walked on by an assortment of birds and licked by wild dogs. (Yesterday, he had visited a Fulani village where he relished a traditional bowl of sour milk with millet).