258 



wriggling bodies of the worms. These were also seen half 

 buried in the inner lining of the adjoining blood vessels, produc- 

 ing conditions strongly resembling the mucous membrane of an 

 intestine affected with typhoid ulcerations. As none of the in- 

 testines were swollen or discolored from embolism there can be 

 little doubt that the violent symptoms and sudden death must be 

 due to lesions anteriorly to the diaphragm. The lungs were dis- 

 tended with blood and of dark purple color, confirming the diag- 

 nosis of suffocation, but an actual rupture of pulmonary blood 

 vessels could not be found though the larger bronchi and the tra- 

 chea were filled w'ith frothy blood. This again would indicate 

 that the actual site of the cause must be sought in the brain and 

 undoubtedly in the form of paralysis of the respiratory center, 

 resulting from either chemical substances, toxins, or, considering 

 the already described conditions of the abdominal arteries, as the 

 result of embolism, that is. the wedging of a minute blood clot, 

 torn by the blood stream from the large clots in the abdominal 

 vessels and carried with the circulation to the brain, where ac- 

 cording to the location, pressure by the obstructed blood stream 

 behind the embolus, various symptoms will be produced, as for 

 instance, paralysis of the respiratory center. As there are 18 

 ways — nine on either side — by which such a clot ( embolus ) ma}' 

 enter the brain it is easily understood that it may become lodged 

 or wedged in almost any part of the brain, and that consecjuently 

 the resulting symptoms may manifest themselves in any part or 

 organ of the body, exactly as is observed in this mysterious dis- 

 ease, generally called cerebro-spinal meningitis. Sometimes the 

 entire hind part is paralyzed, sometimes only the throat, or the 

 tongue, or the muscles of deglutition (swallowing), or the optic 

 nerve ( blind staggers ) or as already stated — the center of res- 

 piration is affected, and the animal suffocates as effectively as had 

 it been strangled. 



I have to state that this theory — that spinal meningitis may be 

 due to nothing but eggs, embryos or the blood clots produced by 

 this same wire worm, circulating in the blood until arrested in 

 the brain — is not original with me, but has been recently ad- 

 vanced by one of the scientists who studied this disease on the 

 spot when more than 30.000 head died in the course of two 

 months in Kansas and Nebraska a year and a half ago. It is. 

 however, only my observations on Maui, and especially the post- 

 mortem examination above referretl to. that has convinced me of 

 the plausibility of the theory, especially as it opens up a possibility 

 of combating this most mysterious of all ec|uine scourges, and the 

 one which at the ])resent time is causing greater loss in tlK^e 

 Islands than all others combined. I'ut mi fortunately the life his- 

 tory of the w(jrm in (|uestion has not been fully worked out. e\en 

 though we know that in all i)robabiiity the drinking w.iter is tin- 

 ])rincipal carrier rmd distril)utor of tin- pal■a^ite. As tiu' I'oard 



