Linguatula Tcenioids. 217 



seven weeks they reach sexual maturity, and reproduce their 

 kind. 



Frequency. In some locaUties linguatula are common. Colin 

 found them in ten per cent, of the dogs opened at the Alfort Vet- 

 erinary College, Paris, most in butchers', .shepherds' and street 

 dogs, and fewest in house dogs. It may be equally common in 

 other localities where it has been recognized. Babes found it in 

 the nose of all Roumanian oxen examined (35 head). 



Nasal Symptoms from Mature Linguatula. These have 

 been noted by Colin in experimental cases, and by others in cas- 

 ual ones, especially in dogs. When first attacked the pricking of 

 the Schneiderian membrane by the buccal hooks gives rise to a 

 little irritation and sneezing, but this decreases as the mucosa be- 

 comes more tolerant. This early symptom usually passes unob- 

 served. If the parasites are few in number, no more marked phe- 

 nomena may appear, and the disease passes unsuspected. When 

 the linguatula are numerous, on the other hand, they interfere 

 more or less with the passage of air, causing more or less snuffing, 

 and frequent and violent paroxysms of sneezing. The dog rubs 

 his nose with his paws as it to remove some offensive agent, tears 

 flow from the eyes and saliva from the month, and there may be 

 violent coughing or even dyspnoea. Dick records a case of sud- 

 den death of a dog from asphyxia, with one linguatula in the 

 larynx, one in the trachea and one in the left bronchus. They 

 sometimes give rise to reflex nervous troubles such as epilepsy or 

 delirium (rabiform symptoms). In other cases the dog is morose, 

 snappish and dangerous. In one instance the parasite was found 

 to have entered the middle ear, so that pain or itching of that or- 

 gan, deafness or vertigo might have been looked for. Landon 

 noted epistasis in an affected man, which promptly disappeared as 

 soon as the parasites had been evacuated. A conclusive symptom 

 is the presence of ova in the discharged nasal mucus, and better 

 still of a mature linguatula. By washing out the nasal chambers 

 with tepid water this evidence may be increased. A single inva- 

 sion in the nose may last for two years (Colin). 



Treatment. This consists of careful syringing out of the 

 nasal chambers with tepid water. A more effective proceeding is 

 to fill each nasal chamber in succession with a mixture of benzine 

 in olive oil (5:100). Knough of this will remain adherent to the 

 mucosa to destroy the parasite. 



