360 Remarks on Dracunculus. 



on the subject,* and from the spirit with which the inquiry 

 seems to have been undertaken, and the scientific character 

 of those by whom it was carried on, we might have hoped 

 that some new fact, calculated to place our knowledge of 

 this tropical disease on an improved and satisfactory footing, 

 would have been by this time elicited. In each of the 

 communications enumerated below, a progressive advance- 

 ment may be observed, and had the Medical Society not 

 been diverted from its original object, and its transactions 

 discontinued, this disease, which is peculiar to hot climates, 

 might by this time have presented to the medical world, 

 a lasting monument of the zeal and public spirit of the 

 profession in India, with which the question naturally rests. 

 Dr. Bird, whose communication was presented to the Medi- 

 cal Society in March 1824, supposes this disease to be en- 

 demic in particular parts of the country, particularly in 

 Guzerat, and that it is chiefly prevalent from the end of May, 

 to the end of September. Dr. Smyttan and Dr. Kennedy 

 confirm the opinion of Dr. Bird as to the disease being con- 

 fined to certain tracts of country presenting, as before re- 

 marked in the West Indies by Dr. Chisholm, a peculiar 

 geological structure. They also concur with Dr. Bird 

 as to the season during which the disease is chiefly pre- 

 valent, and Dr. Singlton is further of opinion that it does 



* Observations on Dracunculus, or the Guinea-worm. By James Bird, 

 Esq., Assistant Surgeon, Artillery, Bombay. 2. On Dracunculus, by 

 Richard Kennedy, M.D. Surgeon to the Residency, Baroda, Bombay. 3. 

 On Dracunculus, by George Smyttan, M.D. Surgeon of Artillery, Bom- 

 bay. To which may be added, as connected with a similar subject. 4. On 

 the worm found in the eyes of the horse, by P. Breton, Esq. Surgeon on 

 the Bengal Establishment. 5. Observations on theFilaria, or thread-worm 

 found in the eye of horses in India, by William Twining, Esq. Surgeon 

 to his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief. The foregoing papers are 

 contained in the 1st volume of the work alluded to. In the 6th volume 

 the subject is resumed by C. Morehead, M.D. Assistant Surgeon, Bom- 

 bay Service. 



