SUMMARY 



Bancroft'© Filariasis is an endemic disease in Brazil, principally in the Northern 

 and Central States; in Bahia, for instance, the filarial endemic index is about 9 per 

 cent. 



The Filaria bancrofti produces eggs, embryos and perhaps toxin. The embryos 

 (Microfilariae nocturna?) are sanguinicular and present a movement of circumdu- 

 ction like spirale. Their periodicity is probably a factor of a larger nightly issue 

 of toxin by the adult worm. They are agglomerated by the extremity of the tail, 

 by means of hydrohemolysis; they are s/tained by the different reactors, while 

 Leishman's and Giemsa's render the central viscus quite nitid and its presence dis- 

 tinguishes them specifically from the other embryos of Filaria?. They complete the 

 evolutive cycle in the organism oi various mocqiuitoes, o-f which, on the occasion 

 of the sting, they get free, already in the state of larves. 



The penetration of the larves of Filaria bancrofti in a person, takes place by a 

 trans-tegumentary way and their access to the lymphatic glands and vases occurs 

 probably through the sub-cutaneous connective tissue, in favour of the continuity 

 which such tissue offers in the human organism. 



The inflammatory and obliterating lesions of Filariasis are determined by the 

 presence of the adult parasites in the lymphatic system, by their eggs and may be 

 on a larger scale through their own toxic products. 



Mechanic causes favour the stagnation and extravasation of the lymph which 

 does not stop its formation in the tis-sues, increasing the pressure oi the lymphatic 

 vases and thus complicating the lesions of the disease. 



There are reasons for including in the clinic table of this disease the anaphylactic 

 forms be.Jde inflammatory ones; pernicious lymphangitis is one of them. 



The adult Filaria? may be the cause of abcesses; the craw-craw, on the contrary, 

 has no pathogenic connection with them. Elephantiasis, may be produced exclusively 

 by the Filaria bancrofti. 



There are motives for distinguishing — in adenolymphocele, chylocele, chylo-tho- 

 rax, etc. — a form of lymphatic extravasation and another of chylous extrava- 

 sation. 



The determination oí the seat of the adult Filaria? has the utmost importance In 

 the therapeutic problem O'f the disease. 



Bancroft's Filariasis has a hematologic characteristic that may serve as basis for 

 the diagnosis and consists cf: 



a) in the apyrectic periods: inexistence of globular alterations; reduction oi 

 the neutrophile polymorphonuclear leucocytes, with increase of the micro-lympho- 

 cytes during the night; and constant increase of the eosinophiles, more accented, 

 however, at night; 



ib) in the feverish periods: inexistence oi globular alterations; absolute increase 

 of the leucocytes; increase of the neutrophile polymorphonuclear leucocytee, with 

 reduction of the micro-lymphocytes; and diminution or absence oi the eosinophiles 

 which return before the access has passed. 



The proof of lipemy supplies elements for the diagnostic of the obstruction oi 

 the thoracic duct by the adult Filaria?. 



The method of treatment by intra-lymphatic or intra-venous injections or by 

 ingestion of parasiticide substances, is not fixed on rational bases. 



Surgery may radically cure certain very cold and troublesome determinations of 

 Bancroft's Filariasis; but the best therapeutic process for such parasitosis seems 

 to be radio-therapy. 



