Annual report on the Medical Research Institute / 1909-.

  • Nigeria. Medical Research Institute.
Date:
[1923]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Medical Research Institute / 1909-. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/34 (page 16)
    In three cases the swellings are becoming more severe and more frequent, with shorter periods of freedom. These cases are (31) illness of one year, (32) illness of fifteen years (35) illness of one year. As regards Case (32) this patient is still in the area where the original infection was contracted, and it is highly probable that there has been re-infection. In Case (33), after seven years the swellings are less severe and less frequent. In Case (34), after one-and-a-half years there is little change. In Case (39), the swellings had appeared for the first time two days before the report was made. The patient remembered at least two bites from Chrvsops, both on the same hand, one five months and the other two months previously. The sensation of the swellings is described as a tenseness or tightness, or stiffness in seven cases and as a dull pain in two cases. The worm occurred in the eye in five eases in which swellings also were noted. In four of these the swellings were the first sign, and in one they were contemporary. In three instances the worm had only once appeared in the eye. In Case (40), in which there were no swellings, the infection was contracted 20 years ago. For the last eight years, no worm has been seen either in the eye or under the skin. In this instance and also in Cases (39) and (37) one or more adult worms had been removed from the eve. The cases in which the worm could be traced moving just under the skin are all of old standing, (32) fifteen years, (37) fourteen years (39) thirteen years and (40) twelve years. The blood has not been examined for embryos in Cases (31), (34) and (39). The examination was negative in Cases (32), (33), (35) and (38). In Cases (35) and (38) the infection was recent, a few days in (38) and one year in (35). The three cases in which embryos were present or had been demonstrated were all old-standing. As regards the cases reported in 1922, fresh information has been collected from sixteen. Of the remainder, two were regarded as cured in that report. Cases (9) and (13). One has died (Case (16)), and the cause of death has not been ascertained. Two cases cannot be traced and replies are awaited from nine. Taking the sixteen cases, in their order, embryos have appeared in the blood in Case (1), the swellings are less severe, the period of freedom is longer and the worm has only once appeared in the eye. In Case (4) also, embryos have appeared in the blood, but the swellings although not so widespread and so numerous are more lasting. Several times a worm has visited the eye. In Case (5), a worm has been seen under the skin of the forearm but none has visited the eye, and no embryos have been seen in the blood. The swellings are of shorter duration and there is a longer period of freedom. Case (6) is worthy of note. A year and a half ago Dr. Parkinson, Surgical Specialist at Lagos gave the patient a course of Stibenyl, intravenously. All signs of infection have since been absent. In Case (7) a worm has appeared once in the eye. The swellings are fewer and of shorter duration and the period of freedom is longer. Embryos have not been found in the blood. In Case (8) the only change is that the period of freedom from swellings is longer. In Case (10) a worm has frequently appeared in the eye, and there is no change in the conditions as regards the swellings. In Case (12) there are still embryos in the blood, the worm visits the eye more frequently, and the swellings are more often multiple.