278 



(Filaria Medinensis,) and demonstrated, with the aid of 

 the microscope, its minute structure. 



The fragment was two inches in length, removed from the 

 leg of a man who had recently returned from the Southern 

 coast of Africa. Bundles of wavy fibres were visible upon 

 compression, running longitudinally, and externally an epidermic 

 coat, which could be completely separated from the subjacent 

 muscular coat, presenting parallel rows of dotted markings, 

 resembling those of striated muscle. 



This portion of the worm was completely filled with young, 

 varying in length from y^^ to yjVit of an inch. They had a 

 bilobed anterior extremity, with an intermediate fissure indi- 

 cating an oral aperture, an appearance of an intestinal canal, 

 and a very prolonged tail running to a very fine point. The 

 dotted markings of the epidermis were also seen in the young. 



Dr. S. L. Abbot read a translation from the Gazette 

 Medicale of Paris, of July 28, 1855, of an article purport- 

 ing to be an authentic history of the so-called Aztec Chil- 

 dren. These children were exhibited to the Society several 

 years ago, and were the subject of a m.emoir read by Dr. 

 J. Mason Warren, a synopsis of which was published in 

 the Proceedings. They are now exhibiting in Europe with 

 the same narrative, as to their origin, which was circulated 

 whilst they were in America. 



By this account it appears, that the so-called Aztec Children, 

 were born of mulatto parents in the neighborhood of Jacotal in 

 the State of San Salvador, Central America. They were ob- 

 tained from their parents for public exhibition on condition of re- 

 ceiving half of the profits. The man, however, to whom they were 

 intrusted, sold them in New York, to an American, without the 

 knowledge of the parents, for the sum of eighteen thousand 

 dollars ; and they were taken to Europe, and exhibited in Eng- 

 land and France with the same fabulous story of their origin as 

 accompanied their exhibition in America. The father of the 

 children is a mulatto fisherman of San Miguel, who obtains a 



