UNIVERSITY 



[9] ON MERMIS ACUMINAT 



The great importance of a knowledge of the history of the 

 internal parasites, and the interest connected with them, from 

 the fearful results following the introduction of some of the 

 class within the human body, as for example, the Trichina 

 spiralis, is my apology for replying to your-inquiries at some 

 length. The detection of the Mermis in the apple, in a few 

 instances, recently, need not, we think, occasion alarm. It is 

 possible that in eating an uncooked apple without the proper 

 mastication, a living Mermis might be introduced into the 

 stomach, for of the Gfordius (a closely allied genus as above 

 stated) Leidy says, " It is perhaps the hardest or most resist- 

 ant to the feel of any of the order, and it is tough and elastic. 

 It is very tenacious of life, and when cut into several pieces 

 will continue to live and move for some time afterward." 

 But should it escape the ordeal of the teeth and pass unin- 

 jured into the stomach, there is reason to believe that the 

 action of the gastric juice and other conditions to which it 

 would be there subjected, would deprive it of life before it 

 could pass into the intestines or penetrate the integuments of 

 the body. 



Subsequent to the above communication, I addressed an- 

 other to Mr. Friend, asking for such additional information as 

 he might possess, or be able to obtain in relation to the inter- 

 esting parasite. In reply he sent me a letter which he had 

 received from Mr. James T. King, of Middletown, stating 

 under date of April 16, 1875, as follows : 



I regret to be able to give you but a very meagre report on 

 the apple-worm. Two or three years have passed since the 

 party who gave me the scanty information below, found the 

 first specimen left with me. 



The apple in which it was found was a fine looking fall 

 pippin, appeared to be sound, was blown from the tree dur- 

 ing a violent wind-storm at night, and picked up the next day. 



The worm was coiled up in the fleshy part of the apple, 

 about midway between the skin and the core. It was 

 white, or of the same color as the pulp, and when uncoiled 

 measured seven inches in length, and about one-fiftieth of an 

 inch in diameter. It remained quite active for several hours, 

 and was then placed in alcohol. 



The specimen delivered to you was found this winter, but 

 the person who discovered it and brought it to me could give 

 me no definite information in regard to it. * * * * 



Accompanying the above, Mr. Friend also writes : - 



