300 DISEASES DUE TO HELMINTHS 



There may be nausea, headache, slight pruritus, with some eosino- 

 philia up to 50 per cent, of the total leucocytes (Stephens). 



The swellings do not pit on pressure, neither do they suppurate.. 

 They may develop singly, one coming as a former one declines. 



TREATMENT. 



Apply ichthyol ointment or 5 per cent. liq. plumbi to the swellings.. 



VOLVULOSIS. 



The parasite, Onchocera volvulus, (F'. volvulus) was first found in 

 tumours of the scalp and chest of a negro on the Gold Coast by a 

 medical missionary. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Dahomey, Nigeria, Cameroons, and the 

 Congo. 



MORPHOLOGY. 



The male F. volvulus is a whitish, filiform, sheathless embryo as 

 found in the microfilarial form, 30 mm. by 0*14 mm., with slightly 

 attenuated ends and transversely striated cuticle. The tail is strongly 

 incurved. There are nine pairs of papilla^ about the anus (Brumpt). 



It carries two unequal sj^icules 177 /x and 82 ft long. 



They are found in the axillae, popliteal space, elbow, sub-occipital 

 region and intercostal spaces. They are common about the chest. 



They are not painful and are easily enucleated. 



They do not suppurate. Eggs and embryos may be found in the 

 swellings when incised. 



The female is 65 mm. by 0*36 mm. The vulva is o'76 mm.. from 

 the anterior end. 



LIFE-HISTORY. 



The worm lies in a lymphatic vessel which becomes inflamed and 

 causes a condensation of the adjacent connective tissue, in which 

 become embedded both males and females. In a central lymphatic 

 space the posterior end of the male and the anterior end of the female 

 project, and in this way copulation takes place. Later the embryos 

 are passed into this space. These latter are from 250 ^ to 300 yit long 

 t>y 5 /"■ fo 6 ^ thick, with pointed tails and no sheath. The micro- 

 filaria have not been seen in the blood. 



The adults may live for years in the human body. 



Their complete history and carrier is not known. 



PATHOGENICITY. 



Lymphangitis and perilymphangitis v/ithout or with fever, leaving 

 a small tumour. 



