57 
Gi-erL\xs GrORIDITJS Liiinaeias, ITSS. 
1758: Gordius Linnsens, 1758a, 644, 647 {aquaticus and argillaceus, Europe; medinen- 
sis). — Stiles & Hassall, 1905, 109 {aquaticus designed type). 
Species GORDIUS AQUATICUS Linnaeus, 1758. 
1758: Gordius aquaticus Linnaeus, 1758a, 647 (in argilla et aquis; Europe). 
The following four cases of parasitism in man have been referred to 
this species; 
Case of Aldrovandus, 1638a. — Aldrovandus does not appear to have seen any 
case himself, but he refers to a Seta or Vitulus aquaticus, which is usually interpreted 
as Gordius aquaticus, as follows: 
“Such is the strength of this poison, if we credit the author of De rerum natura, 
that if taken in drink by man he is made faint and weak until he dies in excruciat- 
ing pain. Albertus affirms the same thing, but that it is otherwise innocuous to the 
touch. Helvetius, the author of Historia aquatilium, also has seen persons dead of hav- 
ing drunk the Vitidus aquaticus. A certain man, he says, had pain around the pr?ecordia 
soon after having drunk this worm; then a certain woman gave to him to drink a 
decoction of Gentiana centaurium in wine. He vomited and at once ejected the worm. 
If the Vitulus aquaticus is born in the belly of any one, the belly and stomach should 
be rubbed with a well-made mixture of equal parts of butter, wax, and oil. Calves, 
especially when full grown, swallow these worms sometimes, especially in the autumn, 
with vegetation, more rarely with water. There are those who believe that they 
[the worms] have their origin inBruchus,^ which does not seem likely to me; others 
[believe that they take their origin] from vegetation hanging down in water troughs 
where cattle drink. 
“When swallowed they attach themselves around the throat and arteries [=wind- 
pipe?] : whence the cattle gradually waste away. ’ ’ 
Case of Siebold, 1854. — X. X., 22 years old, daughter of peasants in good circum- 
stances in Schliersee, in Bavarian Mountains, of robust constitution, enjoyed contin- 
ued good health. Menstruation began in 15th year, without difficulty, and never 
became deranged. In J anuary , 1853, patient became ill, with the following symptoms : 
The girl, who was always well and red-cheeked, became pale; her disposition, 
otherwise gay, became changeable, then petulant, soon deeply melancholic, accom- 
panied by an inexpressible fear of imaginary dangers, with considerable unrest and 
a trembling of the entire body; intense occipital headache, occasional asthmatic 
trouble, frequent fits of convulsive laughter, frequent sobbing and yawning for hours 
at a time, light horripilation, spasmodic unequal pulse. Gastric symptoms were en- 
tirely absent; there was neither nausea nor vomiting, nor loss of appetite. Patient 
emphatically denied having consciously eaten anything injurious. 
The attending physician in Schiersee treated her for hysteria with nervines, which 
cured the trouble except for colicky pains in the abdomen. Xine months later the 
trouble reappeared; the same symptoms recurred, but with greater intensity; the 
trembling of the extremities, the feeling of fear, and the dyspnea became unbearable. 
As loss of appetite and tendency to vomit now developed, with heavy yellowish coat- 
ing to the tongue, an emetic was administered. Upon the fourth vomiting the Gordius 
appeared, to the great terror of the patient. Immediately thereafter all nervous 
symptoms subsided, and the girl is at present as healthy and strong as formerly. 
Menstruation, which had not occurred since the first attack, also immediately became 
regular. 
(^Bruchus Geoff r., 1764, is acoleopteron, but Harper’s Latin Dictionary gives Bruchus 
as “ a kind of locust without wings.” 
