224 PARASITES OP MAN 



larva being distinguished by the presence of a pair of papillae. 

 In the case of Cucullanus the embryos are, according to 

 Leuckart, passively transferred to the stomach of Cyclops by 

 the mouth ; but in the case of Dracunculus, Fedschenko saw the 

 embryo in the act of perforating the bodies of the little Crustacea 

 at the ventral surface, where the segments are bound together 

 by a thin and easily penetrated connecting membrane. The 

 larvae then proceed to coil themselves within the limbs, as many 

 as six or even a dozen of the parasites being occasionally 

 found within the body of a single crustacean host. When they 

 have reached full larval growth they measure about ^" in length. 

 Of course, after attaining this stage, it is a matter of conjecture 

 as to the precise way in which their final destiny is accomplished. 

 Fedschenko fed dogs and cats with the infected Crustacea, but 

 failed to rear Dracunculi in these animals. Clearly, these 

 carnivora were unsuitable hosts. Could Fedschenko have 

 experimented on man the result would probably have been very 

 different. Arguing from what happens in the case of Cucul- 

 lanus amongst fishes, and Trichina in man, there can be little 

 doubt that all the further and final changes undergone by the 

 larvae are accomplished within the human host. These changes 

 are usually, if not invariably, consequent upon a direct trans- 

 ference of the infested entomostraca along with water used as 

 drink. Thus, it must at once be evident that the simple 

 sanitary precaution of filtering water before use is amply suffi- 

 cient to ensure the prevention of attacks of dracontiasis or the 

 guinea-worm disease. The theosophical remedy of Moses 

 against this invasion by fiery serpents, as the worms were called 

 in his time, and the modern prophylactic measures dictated 

 alike by science and common sense, thus stand in striking 

 contrast the one to the other. In the nature of things it must 

 ever remain that unreason and reason will select diametrically 

 opposite methods of action, equally, no doubt, with the good 

 intention of bringing about beneficial results. 



From what has now been advanced, it will be seen that as 

 regards the mode of infection the views categorically expressed 

 in my previous work (' Entozoa/ p. 387) cannot be maintained. 

 What, however, is there stated in respect of treatment still holds 

 good in the main, even as regards prophylaxis. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY (No. 30) . Adam, ' Trans. Med. and Surg. 

 Soc./ Calcutta, 1824. Aitken, W., "The Science and Practice 

 of Medicine/ 6th edit., vol. i, 1872. (Anonymous), " Review of 



