CAUSE OF THE MALADY. 87 



an unexpected moment with increased viru- 

 lence. 



Dissection has proved that the latent cause of 

 this malady is a minute worm of the genus 

 fasciola, which is found adhering to the internal 

 part of the windpipe or trachea. Occasionally 

 it may be discovered just within the aperture of 

 the glottis, but generally it is more than half-way 

 down, and not unfrequently near the bifurcation 

 of the trachea. It adheres closely to the internal 

 membrane by means of two suckers, is almost 

 devoid of the power of motion, and altogether has 

 rather the appearance of a small artery or red 

 muscle than of a worm. Nevertheless, it is 

 obviously the immediate cause of this distemper 

 and of death itself, which is the result of suffoca- 

 tion from the highly inflamed state of the respi- 

 ratory apparatus. To any one aware of this fact, 

 it is evident that all attempted modes of cure 

 which have reference to the digestive organs must 

 be utterly hopeless, and yet there is hardly a 

 gamekeeper or henwife who does not boast of 

 some original nostrum, which, being administered 

 as food or drink, must of course pass through the 

 oesophagus, or gullet, into the stomach. I have 

 seen such remedies tried in hundreds of cases, 

 but, of course, without success. Tracheotomy, 

 and the removal of the worm if such a delicate 



