LARVA OF A FLY IN THE HUMAN INTESTINE, 217 



of S'arcopliaga have been expelled from the human intes- 

 tine in Europe, and it has been stated that they are introduced 

 into the stomach with raw meat. In the case of Kafirs the 

 eating of raw meat may well afford the explanation." 



The common Sarcophaga is viviparous, and the newly- 

 born larvas on being placed on animal matter instantly 

 penetrate beneath the surface, and so disappear from sight. 

 It is probable in the present case that a number of minute 

 newly-born larvae were swallowed with food, and that they 

 lived in the stomach or intestine. It is clearly impossible 

 that dozens of large (-^ in. long) larvae should have been 

 inadvertently swallowed. 



The great restlessness of the larvae when fully grown would 

 probably assist them in being expelled from the body, so that 

 pupation could occur outside of the host. 



In the pi'esent case it is certain that raw meat was not 

 eaten; but I have found that a female of a Sarcophaga, 

 enclosed in a box without food of any kind, nevertheless 

 produced large numbers of larvfe, which could be observed 

 escaping from the body of the parent without any apparent 

 violition on the part of the fly. 



From this observation it is seen that a female, enclosed in a 

 receptacle containing bread or any other food, would readily 

 let fall considerable numbers of minute white grubs, which 

 on adhering to bread or many other articles of food would 

 bo practically invisible. 



These observations are of value in showing the importance 

 of keeping flies away from all food and kitchen utensils. 



It is interesting to observe that the fly belongs to the 

 family Muse idee, and not to the modified parasitic family 

 the Oestridse or Bot flies. It is a quite typical flesh-fly, 

 identical or closely similar to a species very common in this 

 district. 



The larva possesses no special organs for adhering to the 

 mucous membrane of the alimentary canal, and it is very 

 possible that the parasitic habit is purely accidental. 



It is to be surmised, cither that the species in question has 



