THE GUINEA WORM. 7 ! 3 



The history of these remarkable beings is, for the most part, shrouded in mystery, and 

 we know but little of their true habits and the manner of obtaining entrance into the 

 various beings on which they live. It is, however, ascertained that the young of the 

 Entozoa have a very different shape from that of their parents, and that they may 

 obtain entrance into their future homes under the disguise of various forms. 



To this curious sub-class belong many remarkable creatures, among which the follow- 

 ing may be briefly mentioned. The GUINEA WORM (Filaria medinensis) is one of the 

 most developed of this group of animals. It is a strange-looking creature, eight or 

 ten feet in length, and not thicker than ordinary sewing thread. It is found in many 

 of the hotter parts of the world, especially in the country from which it takes its name. 

 It is also found in America, though it does not appear to be plentiful except in the 

 Island of Curasao. 



The Guinea Worm is much dreaded by the inhabitants of the countries where it 

 resides, on account of the pain and inconvenience which it occasions, and the great 

 difficulty in destroying it. It mostly takes up its residence in the leg, and there grows 



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CAT-WORM. Tteala crasslcollls. 

 LARK -WORM. -Taenla platycephala. 



to an inordinate length, causing much pain and swelling until the head of the worm 

 makes its appearance. As soon as the sufferer perceives that the worm has made its 

 appearance, he takes a small piece of wood or pasteboard, rolls the projecting end of 

 the worm round it, and. after very cautiously drawing it out for a few inches, he winds up 

 the loosened portion, and ties the stick close to the limb. Next day, he draws out a 

 little more of the worm, and proceeds in a similar manner, until, in a fortnight or three 

 weeks, the entire entozoon has been withdrawn and wound upon the roller. 



This process is extremely simple, but demands the greatest care, as, if the worm 

 should be broken, a most painful and even dangerous tumor is certain to arise. I have 

 seen a moderately large specimen of the Guinea Worm extracted from an English sailor, 

 into whose leg it had made an entrance, and who was quite incapable of work until his 



