1 882 .] Correspondence. 433 
ethers became (as indicated by Berthollet in “ La Synthase 
Chimique ”) theoretically possible, and the theory has already 
been reduced to practice in so many cases that we may probably 
regard the formation, in like manner, of all remaining “ organic” 
compounds as a mere question of time and patience. — I am, &c., 
Constance Arden. 
DIPTEROUS LARViE IN HUMAN BODIES. 
To the Editor of the Journal of Science. 
Sir, — I find it stated, at page 373 of the present volume, that the 
medical papers give several instances of larvae, and apparently 
Dipterous, having been found in human subjects in this country. 
The subjeCt is one in which I take considerable interest. The 
only instance with which I am familiar is a case brought before 
the International Medical Congress, by Dr. Walter G. Smith, of 
Dublin, who stated that a girl, aged 12, presented herself with 
the following history : — About three months before being seen by 
a medical man an ovoid swelling appeared on the outer side of 
the right ankle, causing her some pain and uneasiness in walking. 
This swelling gradually shifted its position, and slowly moved up 
the leg, thence towards the right axilla, then down to the elbow, 
and finally settled on the back of the neck. In this position a 
small dark spot appeared, an orifice formed, and, when pressure 
was made around this opening, a white grub, nearly an inch in 
length, protruded, and escaped along with some unhealthy pus. 
Several other similar swellings developed upon subsequent occa- 
sions under medical observation, and the medical man extracted 
other grubs exactly similar to the first specimen. No cause 
could be assigned for these curious phenomena. The larvae were 
pronounced by competent authority to belong to a Dipterous 
insect, although the genus could not be satisfactorily determined. 
There was no sufficient proof of the existence of an CEstrus 
peculiar to man alone. 
A good abstract, from which the above is quoted, appeared in 
the “ British Medical Journal,” October 1st, 1881. I shall feel 
grateful to any of your readers who will give additional informa- 
tion or references. — I am, &c., 
William E. A. Axon. 
Fern Bank, Higher Broughton. 
