DRACUNCDLUS MEDINENSIS. 373 



CHAPTER XIV. 



DKAOUNCITLUti MEDINENSIS. 



Importaace of the Guinea-worm in reference to the disease termed dracontiasia — 

 Principal authors who have written on this subject — General and specific characters 

 of Dracunculus medinensis — Geographical distribution — Anatomical structure of 

 the adult female— Organization and development of the embryos — Treatment and 

 precautions to be observed — Summary — Brief notice of a second species. 



If, in reference to the welfare of Europeans, we recognize the 

 importance of making ourselves acquainted with the nature and 

 origin of the Trichina disease, the pork-measles, the hydatid hel- 

 minthiasis, and several other maladies of parasitic origin, it is 

 none the less binding upon entozoologists to work out the various 

 unsolved problems relating to the ravages produced in tropical 

 countries by the guinea-worm. What Bilharz, Greisinger, J. 

 Harley, and others, have done in reference to the formidable fluke 

 disease as it prevails in Egypt and elsewhere, Carter of Bombay 

 has been endeavouring to accomphsh in reference to the dracontiasis 

 of India. In these investigations. Carter has been assisted and 

 partly anticipated by Busk, Owen, Jacobson, and others ; whilst, 

 more recently, Robin, Leblond, and especially Bastian, have added 

 important anatomical details. About ten years since, the late Sir 

 George Ballingall afforded me an opportunity of examining one or 

 two of the numerous fine specimens of Dracunculi, which had, I 

 believe, been preserved in his collection for a period of something- 

 like thirty year.s. The result of this examination (as shoA\n by a 

 statement published in the second edition of Ballingall' s well- 

 known " Outlines of Military Surgery") yielded a highly satisfac- 



