A contribution on the life history of the male Filaria medinensis founded on the examination of specimens removed from the abdominal cavity of man / R. Havelock Charles.

  • Charles, R. Havelock.
Date:
[1891]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A contribution on the life history of the male Filaria medinensis founded on the examination of specimens removed from the abdominal cavity of man / R. Havelock Charles. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    inensis founded on the Examination of specimens re- moved from the abdominal cavity of man. BY Surgeon R. HAVELOCK CHARLES, M.D., M.C.H., F.R.C.S.I., F.Z.S., BENGAL MEDICAL SERVICE, PROFESSOR OF ANATOMY AND COMPARATIVE ANATOMY, MEDICAL COLLEGE, LAHORE ; SURGEON, MAYO HOSPITAL, LAHORE; FELLOW OF THE-PUNJAB UNIVERSITY. The specimens of which the accompanying sketches are fairly faithful representations were removed from the sub-peritoneal tissue of “ subjects ” un- dergoing dissection in the Anatomical Department of this College. Figures i, 2 and 3 represent the calcified remains of specimens of Filaria medinensis in various stages of development. These came from one “ Subject,” and were found in the neighbourhood of the R. Ext. Iliac Vein. The largest was lowest down, the smaller ones being near the R. Sacro Iliac Art. The length of Figure i I compute to be about 266 mm. and its diameter r8 mm. The smallest specimen, Fig. 3, did not measure, previous to undergoing calcifi- cation, more than 30 mm., and its diameter is 0*5 mm. It may have been on its migration from the alimentary canal some time, so that its size on escaping from the intestine was probably very much less than the foregoing measurement. The cellular tissue around was thickened as if it had been the seat of old inflammation. The calcified remains are each surrounded by a sort of boundary membrane, which evidently, on the subsidence of the in- flammation, closed them severally off from the general economy. Why the worms died it is impossible to say. It is probable that, if the host suffered from continued fever of a high temperature, their vitality may have been inter- fered with and their destruction ensured. Enlarged spleen was present, thus showing that the host had in his time been a malarial subject. The worms having died, the deposition of lime salts in their tissues is easily understood. This calcification has left beautiful casts of the worms, demonstrating well the rounded shape and the calibre of the body. Neither head nor tail can be made out. I consider there is no doubt that the specimens represent imma- ture guinea-worms. My reasons for considering them so are— (1) Shape of body proves them round worms, Nematoda ; (2) The calibre, r8 mm., and length, 266 mm, (about), agrees with that of Filaria m. ;