308 
Note on Dracunculus medinensis 
sometimes admitted in which a piece of worm had been retained since the 
previous year and in which, as soon as the guinea-worm season began, the 
worms became active and gave trouble. This was no doubt due to the maturing 
and escape of the embryos which presumably had lain dormant in the worm 
fragment during the off season. In these cases sugar caused a flare up of the 
tissues about the worm fragment and made it easy to lay the track open and 
wash out the remains of the worm, etc. 
Whereas the adult guinea-worm’s body usually lies extended beneath the 
skin, the worms which loose their way to water, so to speak, by becoming 
lodged in the scrotum or abdominal wall are found coiled in loops and are 
easily removed by cutting down upon them. Several worms measured at least 
five feet in length. 
Sugar, taken as described, makes the patient almost unbearably thirsty 
and would appear to cause a condition decidedly uncomfortable to the worm. 
