More likely, the word bug itself had different connotations at the time. No surprise that the word bug itself is etymologically linked to goblins or ghosts in

More likely, the word bug itself had different connotations at the time. No surprise that the word bug itself is etymologically linked to goblins or ghosts in the time period referred to. And fits perfectly with the usage in the quoted paragraph. https://www.etymonline.com/word/bug https://www.etymonline.com/word/bug