286 Account of the Larva of 



which sometimes prove fatal, yet nothing seems to have been 

 added of late to these vague indications, in illustration of its real 

 history. 



The following is an authentic instance, which lately occurred 

 to our knowledge, and with the particulars of which we were fa- 

 voured by Dr A. Hill of Greenock. George Killock, steward 

 of the ship Cecilia, while in the harbour cf George Town, De- 

 merara, during the month of September 1828, felt an extreme 

 itching in a spot situated on the lower and back part of the right 

 arm, which he frequently rubbed and scratched. The feeling 

 was quite different from that caused by the bite of the mus- 

 quito or sand-fly, with which he was sufficiently familiar. Ere 

 long, something like a boil or indolent tumour formed, which oc- 

 casioned great pain, as if a sharp instrument had been thrust 

 into the arm, or as if suppuration was going on at the bones. 

 This extreme pain came on periodically in paroxysms, and the 

 arm was poulticed for a length of time. The swelling was not 

 so great as to aft'ect the movements of the joint, and as there 

 was no appearance of its coming to a point, applications were 

 given up. One day, about five weeks after the commencement 

 of the pain, Kellock observed some bloody matter on his shirt- 

 sleeve, which he shewed to the captain, when the latter distinct- 

 ly perceived something in motion in the centre of a small ori- 

 fice, which had become apparent on the tumour. The motion 

 increased, till, to his surprise, the head of an insect protruded it- 

 self; and this it continued to do daily, though the animal was 

 observed to withdraw into its burrow when any one came near, 

 or even pointed at it. The pain at this time M'as so acute as to 

 cause sickness. The chamber of the insect seemed exactly to 

 fit its body, and merely admitted of its motions outwards and 

 inwards. It occasionally discharged a quantity of blood-co- 

 loured matter. Many attempts were made to seize it, but it al- 

 ways instantly retreated, and the captain, not knowing but that 

 it partook of the nature of the Guinea worm, with which he was 

 well acquainted, was- fearful of a forced extraction, lest it should 

 break asunder, and leave a principal portion in the wound. 

 However, it was observed to protrude more and more of its 

 body every day, and, upon one occasion, it came out to the 

 length of more than an inch. At last it dropt out of its own 



