392 ANIMAL PARASITES. 



in their movements, but resemble the crabs and spiders; 2d, 

 because the old Hebrews knew very well how to distinguish 

 serpents (Nachasch) and scorpions (^Jp?) and lastly because 

 those bitten by scorpions quickly die ; but although " much 

 people" of the Israelites certainly died, yet a great number, who 

 looked upon the brazen serpent, were saved. 



Data as to the mode in which the Nechaschim Seraphim an- 

 noyed the Jews is to be found in the seventh verse, where it 

 says : ^pviKD "ID'TT " that Jehova may allow to be taken away 

 from upon us." The by in Mealeun literally indicates a disorder 

 occurring upon the Israelites, but might also, according to M. 

 Michael, indicate its lying upon them like a burden. Now it is 

 certainly known that at the Cape, snakes creep in the night into 

 the trowsers of the sleeping Boers, and that scorpions also crawl 

 into the clothes, but they do not trouble or wound man when 

 he does not strike, press, or otherwise irritate them. Moreover, 

 when snakes inflict wounds, they do it without remaining upon 

 the person; come to him unseen, but not upon him. But if we 

 understand the by literally, it suits the Filaria very well, as it 

 occurs immediately beneath the skin and produces boils and tumours 

 upon its surface. That in ancient times the Filaria was reckoned 

 amongst the serpents on account of its snake-like form, is proved 

 at once by the Greek name pa/coimov = dracunculus, that is to say, 

 a species of snake, which had something fabulous and inexplicable 

 about it, which might certainly from its form be regarded as a 

 serpent, but which from its nature could not pass as a snake with 

 quite so much propriety. The inflammatory pain and swelling, 

 which occurred with the breaking out of the worm, are certainly 

 very well expressed by Seraphim, the mortality amongst the 

 Israelites is easily explained by their ignorance of the treatment, 

 and the dangerous symptoms occurring in consequence of the 

 breaking of the worm, which, according to the statements of 

 some authors may be immediately fatal. Thus, for example, 

 Avenzoar expressly narrates, that, in his native country, " csger 

 in continenti post dolor em vehementem in parte affect a exortum 

 moriatur." At the same time, we must not forget that the 

 disorder being endemic in that place of sojourn made its 

 appearance as an epidemic, as frequently occurs, and that en- 

 demic disorders raised to epidemics, always proceed with more 

 dangerous symptoms than as endemics. Hence the great mor- 

 tality of the Israelites. 



