NEMATODA 



231 



their growth. Heller obtained mature worms from an infant 

 only five weeks old. Finally the worms are transferred to the 

 cascum, which constitutes, so to speak, their headquarters. It 

 is an error to suppose that the lower bowel or rectum forms 

 their especial habitat, nevertheless the most approved manuals, 

 vade mecums, and general treatises have for a long time sup- 

 ported this erroneous view. The error had been pointed out by 

 Strieker in 1861. 



The symptoms produced by Oxyurides are occasionally very 

 serious. In the mildest cases they have a tendency to under- 

 mine the health. As remarked 

 in my ' Entozoa/ the unpleasant 

 sensations chiefly develop them- 

 selves in the evening and at night, 

 consisting for the most part of 

 feelings of heat and irritation within 

 and around the margin of the anus. 

 The symptoms may become ex- 

 tremely distressing and almost in- 

 tolerable, especially when the itch- 

 ing extends to the genito-urinary 

 passages, in consequence of the 

 escape and migration of the para- 

 sites about these parts. By-and- 

 by various sympathetic phenomena, 

 such as restlessness, general ner- 

 vousness, itchings at the nose, in- 

 voluntary twitchings, grinding of 

 the teeth during sleep, chorea, con- 

 vulsions, and even epileptiform 

 seizures, may supervene. At the 

 age of puberty special local dis- 

 orders arise, the nature of which will 

 be readily understood when merely FIG. 4.7. Adult male oxyuru vemienians. 



, n. , , I'-ii Magnified. After Kiichemneister. 



spoken of as the morbid pheno- 

 mena of sexual irritation. In the female the occurrence of 

 pruritus and leucorrhcea is not uncommon, accompanied or 

 not, as the case may be, with hysteria in various forms. There 

 is usually general asthenia, with more or less emaciation. The 

 anaemia is sometimes remarkable, but in place of anorexia, 

 which is, however, an occasional symptom, one frequently finds 

 a most voracious appetite, especially in young people. Some- 



