C. G. Hewitt 
171 
The Relation of F. canicularis and F. scalaris to Myiasis 
of the Intestinal and Urinary Tra.cts. 
For many years cases have been recorded of the presence of dipterous 
larvae or “maggots” in the human intestine, from which they have 
been expelled either by vomiting or through the anus. Their presence 
in the human body has frequently resulted in more or less serious 
intestinal or urinary troubles. The results of these cases are widely 
scattered through medical and other scientific journals and reference 
will be made to a number of the more impoi’tant and typical cases. 
Occurrence in the Alimentary Tract, 
The presence of these larvae in the stomach is usually indicated by 
nausea, vertigo and violent pains; the larvae in many cases are expelled 
by vomiting. If they occur in the intestine, they are expelled with the 
faeces and their presence is signalized by diarrhoeal symptoms, abdominal 
pains, or haemorrhage caused by the traumatic lesions of the mucous 
membrane of the intestine which the larvae effect. 
Rudolphi (1808) mentions the occurrence of insect larvae in the 
human body. 
In 1839 Jenyns recorded the case of a clergyman of about 70 years 
of age, who complained of general feebleness, loss of appetite and 
a disagreeable epigastric feeling of a tremulous character. These 
symptoms began in the spring of 1836 and it was not until the autumn 
that the larvae were observed. They were expelled repeatedly in large 
numbers and their expulsion in this manner continued for several 
months. The larvae were about equal in size and extremely active on 
their appearance. The malady did not recur and the evacuation of the 
larvae ceased shortly; the patient’s health gradually improved but not 
completely. The author calls attention to the fact that the symptoms 
made their appearance in the spring but the larvae were not expelled 
until the summer and autumn following. It would appear, therefore, 
that they entered the stomach in the egg state and after hatching 
passed into the intestine where they completed their growth. 
The occurrence of dipterous larvae in the intestine is recorded by 
Hope (1840). Laboulbene (1856) records the rearing of the larvae 
belonging to this genus from the intestine of a woman who had suffered 
for some time from stomachic pains with loss of sleep and appetite. On 
October 12th she took castor oil, and after violent efforts and a further 
dose of an emetic she vomited altogether about seventy larvae. The 
