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XXXIX. An Account of Worms in Animal 
Bodies, In a Letter to Tho. Birch, Z). Z). 
Seer, R. S. from Frank Nicholls, M,D, 
Med. Reg. and F. R. S. 
S I R, 
Read Nov. 6, MONG the primary caufes of dc- 
JLjl. ftrud:ion to animal bodies, it feems 
probable, that worms are more frequently concern’d 
than is generally imagined. I have often obferved 
worms in different parts of the body, which, I fhould 
think, could not exift without great difturbance to 
the oeconomy, and perhaps at laft muft be fatal to 
the animal. 
Filh are, to appearance, more fubjed: to worms 
than other animals : the cod often {hews fmali {len- 
der worms, coil’d up like fnakes, on the furface of 
its liver : and the bley in our Thames, about the 
month of July, is often diilrefs’d by a long flat 
worm, which, by poffeliing and eating its liver, pre- 
vents the fi{h from comprefling itfelf to that fpeci- 
fle gravity, which is neceflary for its quiet continu- 
ance under the water; fo that it is obliged to fldp 
about upon the furface of the water, till it becomes 
a prey to its foes, or dies fuffocated, by its being fo 
often out of v/ater, and deprived of that adion of 
the water, which is analogous to the force of the air 
to us in breathing. 
Among the many cafes, which I have feen, two 
feem to deferve our particular attention, as well be- 
caufe they are greatly prejudicial to the farmer, as 
becaufe. 
