526 THE INDIAN THREAD-WORM, 



tines. None of them have yet been found to infest 

 the bodies ofRept iles or Fish. 



Their body is round, thread-shaped, and very 

 smooth. The mouth is dilated, and has a roundish 

 concave lip. 



THE INDIAN THREAD- WORM, OR GUINEA WORM*.. 



This species is too commonly found both in the 

 East and West Indies. It enters the naked feet of 

 the slaves, and occasions very troublesome itchings, 

 and sometimes excites even fever and inflammation* 

 It particularly attacks the muscles of the arms and 

 Jegs, from whence it is only to be extracted by means 

 of a piece of silk or thread tied round its head. 

 But the greatest caution is necessary in this simple 

 operation, lest the animal, by being strained too 

 much, should break ; for, if any part remains un- 

 der the skin, it grows with redoubled vigour, and 

 becomes a cruel and sometimes a fatal enemy. 



Dampier tells us that these worms are no thicker 

 than a large brown thread, but, as he had been in- 

 formed, five or six yards long. " If they break in 

 drawing out, that part which remains in the flesh 

 will putrefy, be very painful, and endanger the 

 patient's life, or at least the use of the limb ; and 

 I have known some that have been scarified and 

 cut strangely to take out the worm." He was un- 

 fortunate enough to have one of these creatures in 



* Synonyms. — Filaria medinensis* Linn. Qmel. Gordius medi« 

 nensis. Linn. Syst. Nat. 



