4iO msioiiv or 



CHAP. in. 



Ol' THE STAU-ilSlI. 



Ths next order of zoophytes, is that oi tlie star-llsh, a nu- 

 merous tribe, shapeless and deformed, assuming at different 

 times different appearances. The same aiiimal that now appears 



tvas £.0 spverely bitten by one of those dreadful animals, tli;it for some time 

 it was doubtful wlietlier he would Vivv or die. 



the Naked Tube Woryn. — The body of the tube worms is elongated: they 

 huve cylicirical mouths at the one end, and min-ow»r than the body : Ibe 

 ajiertuic at the side of the body is erudlorm. The body of the naked tube 

 worm is covered with a close skin, and globular at the lower end. It inhabits 

 the European seas, under stones, and grows to eight inches in length. 



The Taenia:, or Tape Worms. — Teniae are worms that inhabit tlie bodies 

 of ditterent animals, where they are destined to feed upon the juices already 

 auimalised. They are generally found in the alimentary canal, and usually 

 about the upper part of it, where tlierc is the greatest abundance of chjle, 

 which seems to be their natural food. 



We are not to suppose that these worms are created for the purpose ot 

 producing disease in the animals they inhabit, but rather that nature has di. 

 rected that no situation should be vacant, where the work of nuiltiplying 

 the species of living beings could be carried on. By thus allowijig tliem to 

 exist within each other, the sphere of increase is considerably enlarged. 

 There is, however, little doubt, that worms, and more especially tliose ol 

 the present tribe, do sometimes produce diseases in the bodies they inliabit ; 

 but we are at the same time very certain, that worms do exist abundantly 

 in many auimals without at all disturbing their functions, or annoying tliein 

 in the slightest degree : and we ought to consider all these creatures rather 

 as the concomitants, than the causes of disease. 



The Common Tape Worm inhabits the intestines of mankind, geneially at 

 the upper part of the alimentary canal ; it is from three to thirty feet in 

 length, and hiis been found even sixty feet long. It is sometimes solitary, 

 hut generally in considerable numbers, and occasions emaciation and various 

 distressing maladies ; and adlieres so liruily tu the intesthie, that it is m- 

 moved with great difficulty. 



The head liiis a terminal mouth, surrounded with two rows of radiate 

 hooks or holders; and a little beneath, on the flattened surface, it has four 

 tuberculate oriiices or suckers, two on each side. The body is composed ol 

 a number of distinct joints, appearing as if sheathed :a each other; each 

 joint with a lateral marginal pore, by which it attaches itself to the iutes. 

 tines; tliose near the head a little smaller, enlarging towards the middle, 

 and gradually lessening towards the tail: the tail is terminated by a semi- 

 circular joint, without any aperture. 



Upwaids of 1200 species of intestinal worms have been discovered. Six- 

 teen of these have been found in the human body ; the rest are peculiar t& 

 other animals. 



