200 LEISURE-TIME STUDIES. 



derives its name. The Guinea-worm troubles not the in- 

 ternal economy of man, but has, strange to say, a striking 

 and persistent aptitude for locating itself under the skin of 

 the legs and feet. The interest with which the Guinea- 

 worm is regarded by naturalists and others is derived from 

 the fact of its curious life-history and habits, and from the 

 supposition that this parasite represents the " fiery serpents " 

 which so exercised the minds and tortured the bodies of the 

 ancient Israelites. This supposition is somewhat strength- 

 ened by the knowledge that Plutarch, in his " Symposiacon," 

 quotes a remark to the effect that " the people taken ill on 

 the Red Sea suffered from many strange and unknown 

 attacks," and that, amongst other worms, " little snakes 

 which came out upon them, gnawed away their legs and 

 arms, and when touched, retracted, coiled themselves up 

 in the muscles, and there gave rise to the most insupport- 

 able pains." Making allowance for a few exaggerations, 

 such a description, especially in its latter portion, applies 

 very closely to this curious enemy of man. In length, the 

 Guinea-worm may vary from one to six feet, whilst speci- 

 mens of twelve feet in length are not unknown. The body 

 is cylindrical in shape, and attains a thickness of about one- 

 tenth of an inch. Curiously enough, not a single male 

 Guinea-worm has yet been met with, all the known speci- 

 mens belonging to the opposite sex. The worm enters the 

 skin as a minute organism which possesses a singular vitality, 

 and which exists in its free condition in muddy pools, in 

 wells, tanks, and in marshes. In all probability the young 

 Guinea-worm gains access to the skin through the sweat- 

 ducts. Once located within the skin, the animal grows 

 rapidly, and in about a year attains the dimensions just 

 given. Every traveller in the East knows the Guinea- 

 worm by repute, and has witnessed the familiar operation 

 performed for its extraction. Ancient works on medicine 

 contain descriptions of this operation, and exhibit drawings 

 of the worm and of the appearances produced by its tenancy 

 in the skin. The sole aims of the operator are those of 



