184 ACCOUNT or a WORM Iw a 
not pais unrecorded, efpecially as it occurred in this city, 
under the immediate notice of the Philofophical Society. 
A report prevailed laft fummer that a horfe was to be 
feen which had a living ferpent in one of his eyes. At 
firft I difregarded this report, but numbers of my acquain- 
tance, who had been to fee the horfe, confirming the ac- 
count, I had the curiofity to go myfelf, taking a friend 
along with me. The horfe was kept in Arch-ftreet and 
belonged to a free negroe. I examined the eye with 
all the attention in my power, being no ways difpofed to 
credit the common report, but rather expecting to de- 
tet a fraud or vulgar prejudice; I was much furprifed, 
however, to fee a real living worm within the ball of the 
horfe’s eye. This worm was of a clear white colour, in 
fize and appearance much like a piece of fine bobbin; it 
feemed to be from 22 to 3 inches in length, which how- 
ever, could not be duly afcertained, its whole length ne- 
ver appearing at one time, but only fuch a portion as could 
be feen through the iris, which was greatly dilated. The 
creature was in a conftant lively vermicular motion; fome- 
times retiring fo deep into the eye as to become totally in- 
vilible, and at other times approaching fo near to the iris 
as to become plainly and diftin@ly feen; at leaft fo much 
of it as was within the field of the iris. I could not diftin- 
guifh its head, neither end being perfe@ly exhibited whilft 
I viewed it, and indeed its motion was fo brifk and con- 
ftant, that fo nice a fcrutiny was not to be expected. The 
horfe’s eye was exceedingly enflamed, {woln and running; 
I mean the mulcles contiguous to the eye ball, and feemed 
to give him great pain; fo that it was with much difficulty 
the eye could be kept open for more than a few feconds 
at a time; and I was obliged to watch favourable moments 
for a diftin& view of his tormentor. I believe the horfe 
was guite blind in that eye, for it appeared as if all the 
humours were confounded together, and that the worm 
had the whole orb to range in, which, however, was not 
of 
