Observations on Filaria sanguinis hominis in south Formosa / by W. Wykeham Myers.

  • Myers, William Wykeham.
Date:
[1880?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on Filaria sanguinis hominis in south Formosa / by W. Wykeham Myers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    to say that this gentleman also confirms my conclusions. I allude to the Rev. David Smith, of the English Presbyterian Mission, who became greatly interested in the subject, and through whose intervention I hope to obtain specimens of mosquitos from different parts of the country, as well as further information concerning the presence or absence of elephantiasis and allied diseases in the various districts he may visit in pursuit of his calling. In order to test the longevity of the embryos after withdrawal from the body, we prepared slides, with all precautions, at 9.30 p.m. and from 7.45 am. With a view of preventing desiccation, the slides were carefully oiled for a space of about a quarter of an inch round their rims; blood was then drawn in the manner before described, the covering glass (of similar size and thickness to that on which the blood lay) was then carefully adjusted, and only those preparations were selected on which the blood and its corpuscles were, as nearly as we could judge, equally disseminated. In order to ensure greater opportunities for contrast, blood was extracted at 7.45 a.m. and 8 a.m., these being the morning hours which reference to Table 2 seemed to suggest as being the most suitable. Each embryo was carefully observed and its condition noted, and the following results were obtained. I have arranged the notes in parallel columns for facility of comparison. Morning Slides. First Day: -1st Observation, 7.45 a.m. : 12 Em- bryos. 1 st stretched out, spasmodic action, extremities more active than centre, very languid. 2nd stretched out, extremities active, generally languid. yd stretched out, almost dead, extremities slightly moving with slow undulatory motion. 4th stretched out, extremities very active, motion spasmodic. 5th stretched out, general movement, but less vigorous than normal, action spasmodic, with distinct pauses. 6th stretched out, very weak, action spasmodic. 7 th more active, stretched out, pauses very marked. 8th very languid, two-thirds of body gyrating slowly round passive upper third, which is ex- tended. 9th very nearly normal in action, slightly stretched out. 10th very languid, about two-thirds of body moving spasmodically, stretched out. Evening Slides. is£ Day, 9.30 p.m. : 31 Embryos. Every one appeared to be vigorous and moving with great rapidity, presenting a “ star-like appear- ance ; ” motion so rapid as to be quite ^dis- tinguishable ; no stretching out or other sign of debility to be seen in any of the embryos coming under observation. 3