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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    In conclusion, I may suggest the possibility and probability of cases of Psoas and Iliac abscess and obscure pains in the post-abdominal and pelvic regions being at times due to the irritation of this parasite. The neighbourhood of the Pelvis where the calcified specimens were found showed, as I have pre- viously stated, signs of old inflammation, and the ‘ remains’ were walled off from the system by the usual protective membrane. Explanation of Plates. Figures /, 2, 3, Calcified remains of Filaria medinensis, corresponding to three separate worms, $ probably. The “ cast ” in figure 1 is an excellent one: the round body is well shown ; neither head nor tail can be made out. This is the most mature of the speci- mens, and was found nearest of the three to Poupart’s Ligament in the neigh- bourhood of the External Iliac vein of right side. It is encapsuled by a thin membrane evidently derived from the surrounding tissues and inflammatory in nature. Figures 2 and 3 are smaller, and represent specimens of a very much less mature age. The diameter of the body of figure 3 is not one-fourth that of the body of figure 1. These calcifications remind one of the convoluted abodes of some of the Tubicolse seen on the outside of shells on the sea-shore. Figure 4.—Filaria medinensis $ . Life-size drawing of worm. The three pieces of which it consisted have been placed in position and the sketch made from them. Length about 284 mm. Diameter 1 mm. Papillae on head not seen. Mucronate tail well shown. Figure 5.—Filaria medinensis—male and female in copulation. Represent- ed twice the actual size. The male (a) has been somewhat injured about the free end, which is the head ; the brownish striae down from head correspond to the injured “ pharynx.’’ This is better shown in the case of the female (b), on the head (d) of which the brownish marking with a dilatation is seen. The other extremity (c) of the female is broken off. The genital opening (e) of the female is shown, though it is perhaps represented too definitely. It is the tail end of the male which is within the body of the female. This specimen when found in March last was in excellent preservation. At that time I partially withdrew the male, but did not completely do so, not wishing to spoil the position of the worms. Now, although everything is quite plain, the male is somewhat dilapidated. Figures 4 and 5—Were removed from near the sacral promontory. It will be noted that in the two “ subjects ” from which all the specimens—calcified and uncalcified—were removed the seat cf the parasites was either in the sub-