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SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS
.BY
MEDICAL OFFICERS OF THE ARMY OF INDIA.
EDITED BY
W. R. RICE, ESQ., M.D.,
SURGEON-GENERAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
PART VII.
1892.
1—Some observations on the life-history of Sclerostomum, tetracan-
thum Diesing, and on Sclerostomiasis in equine animals in connection
with a so-called outbreak of " Surra " at Shillong.—S urgeon G. M. J.
Giles, M.B., F.R.C.S. (Page I.)
2.—On a new Sclerostome from the large intestine of mules (a postscript to
the preceding paper).— surgeon G. M. J. Giles, M.B.,
F. R. C. S. (Page 25.)
3.—On nodular disease of the intestine in sheep,— Surgeon G. M. f. Giles,
M.B., F:R.C.S. (Page 31.)
4.—A description of two new nematode parasites found in sheep. — surgeon
G. M. f. Giles, M.B., F.R. C.S. (Page 45.)
5.—A Contribution on the life-history of the male Filaria medinensis founded on
the Examination of specimens removed from the, abdominal cavity of
.man.—Surgeon R. Havelock Charles, M.D.,M ch , F.R.C.S.I., F.Z.S.
(Page 51)
CALCUTTA :
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA
1892.
Price Three Rupees.
SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS
BY
MEDICAL OFFICERS OF THE ARMY OF INDIA.
EDITED BY
W. R. RICE, ESQ., M.D .,
SURGEON-GENERAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
PART VII.
1892.
I.—Some observations on the life-history of Sclerosiontum tetracan-
t h u m
, D i e s i n g , a n d o n S c l e r o s t o m i a s i s i n e q u i n e a n i m a l s ; i n
connection with a so-called outbreak of " Surra" at Shillong.
Surgeon G. M. f. Giles, M.B., F.R.C.S. (Page 1.)
2.—On a new Sclerostome from the large intestine of mules (a postscript
to the preceding paper).— Surgeon G. M. 7. Giles, M.B., F.R.C.S.
(Page 25.)
3.—On nodular disease of the intestine in sheep.— Surgeon G. M. f. Giles,
M.B., F.R.C.S. (Page 31.)
4.—A description of two new nematode parasites found in sheep.— Surgeon
G.f. Giles, M.B., F R.C.S. (Page 45.)
5.—A Contribution on the life-history of the male Filaria medinensis
founded on the Examination of specimens removed from the ab-
dominal Cavity of man.—Surgeon R. Havelock Charles, M.D., M.ch.,
F.Z.S. (Page 51.)
CALCUTTA:
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF.GOVERNMENT PRINTING. INDIA.
1892.
Some observations on the life-history of Sclerostomum tetra -
canthum Diesing, and on Sclerostomiasis in equine ani-
mals; in connection with a so-called outbreak of "Surra " at
Shillong.
BY
SURGEON G. M. J. GILES, M.B., F.R.C.S.,
MEDICAL OFFICER, LAWRENCE MILITARY ASYLUM, SANAWAR.
FOR some eighteen months past there has been present, among equine
animals at Shillong, an epizootic, which has resulted in the loss of a large
number of valuable animals.
Though by no means confined to them, this outbreak was especially severe
among the transport mules attached to the regiment stationed there; and I
understand that, from first to last, between sixty and seventy of these have
either died or had to be destroyed.
When first the mortality became serious, a veterinary surgeon was sent to
investigate the nature of the outbreak, and his diagnosis was, that the disease
was " Surra." His recommendations consisted in the removal of the lines to a
new site, and in various sanitary improvements, the adoption of which have
undoubtedly gone far to diminish the severity of this epizootic. The disease
cannot, however, be said to have been stamped out, as cases have continued to
occur ever since ; and it is these later cases that have come under my own
observation, some six having been examined during the period of about five
months that have elapsed since my attention was first directed to the matter.
These latter cases, I am told, are in every way identical with those that ap-
peared before them, and it is on this account that I have spoken of the cases as
" Surra. " As to what sort of cases are called by this name elsewhere I am
unable to say, and whether the cases I am about to describe should be properly
called " Surra " at all must remain entirely a matter of opinion. All that can
be said is that the cases I have seen formed part of a continuous epizootic the
earlier cases of which were diagnosed as " Surra" by competent veterinary
authority, and that there can be no practical doubt that the earlier and later
cases were of the same character.It is likely enough that a good many, quite
distinct, communicable diseases may be included under this term, and, from the
analogy of what we find in human medicine, it may be expected that nothing
but confusion can arise should any one attempt to pin down a loose vernacular
term such as " Surra " to some one definite pathological condition. The cases
4
Scientific Memoirs by
while the males, which scarce exceed half an inch in length, have a large copula-
tory bursa. These larger specimens, of both sexes, were almost all adherent
to the mucous membrane in exactly the same way as Dochmius duodenalis
is found in the human duodenum, and so firm is the grip with which they attach
themselves, that it was often not altogether easy to detach them without dam-
aging them, and the mucous surface would be pulled out into a conical pro-
jection by the effort. The large amount of blood which they habitually
abstract was shown by the frequency with which long tails of clotted blood would
be found hanging from the anus of the worms, and by the numerous streaks of
blood to be seen amongst the intestinal contents. Although very numerous, for
many thousands must actually have been present, the number of these larger
specimens was quite insignificant in comparison with that of the smaller
specimens forming the second category. These latter, however, proved to
be all sexually mature, and large numbers (at least a quarter of the whole
number) were found actually in copula . The main difference was that they
were rarely, if ever, found adherent to the mucous membrane, and that it was
quite exceptional to find any evidence of their containing blood. Apparently the
smaller ones do not indulge in the habit of blood-sucking, at any rate as regu-
larly as the larger kind. These smaller worms were present in such enormous
numbers that the term " buckets-full " is no exaggeration to apply to the quan-
tity :it would be impossible to make an even approximate calculation of the
actual numbers; but the figure could certainly not run to less than six digits.
Alike large and small specimens were confined to that portion of the large in-
testines in which the contents are semifluid, and still undergoing digestion. In
the lower parts of the bowel, their numbers steadily diminished, and in the
rectum, where the dung was quite formed, not a single specimen could be found.
On closer examination these parasites proved to be Sclerostomum tetracanthum
Diesing.
The whole of the mucous mm brane was closely spotted with the marks of
recent and old bites inflicted by the parasites, from 10-20 being counted on an
average square inch. In addition to these lesions, the bowel, when held up to
the light, was seen to be studded with opaque spots about the size of a lentil ;
and, on feeling these spots between the finger and thumb, a distinct sensation,
as of an imbedded small shot, could be made out. Dissection of these spots
under the simple microscope revealed the fact that each contained, coiled up
within it, an encysted worm, the largest of which were about the size of the
smallest of those found free in the intestines, and a closer examination brought to
light a number of small undercut ulcers, from which encysted worms had evi-
dently but recently escaped,
The small intestine was free from parasites ; but the stomach contained im-
mense numbers of the smaller parasites, and was dotted with cysts in exactly
the same way as the ccecum. The mucous membrane presented appearances
6
Scientific Memoirs by
The facts recorded in this extract comprise, practically, all that is said
about the development of the parasites ; and it is the gap left between the depo-
sition of the ova in the dung of the one host, and the entry of the young para-
sites into another that I have been able to fill up, and which forms the essential
part of the present paper.
To return, however, to the clinical aspect of the disease. The second case
was that of a transport mule, which was in a dying state at the time of the de-
struction of the horse, The animal was too weak to stand and lay helpless on
its side, but was perfectly conscious and fed quite greedily when grass was
given it by hand. The breathing was deep and laboured, but the breath sounds
were normal (apnœa of bloodlessness). The mucous membranes were absolute-
ly bloodless, but there was but little subcutaneous œdema ; and there was
no true paralysis, but only extreme weakness. Bed sores were commencing
to form over the haunch bones ; the temperature was 97.8° (sub-nor-
mal). No worms could be found in the dung, but it contained countless
ova. The blood was twice examined, and no trichomonads could be found on
either occasion.
The animal was practically at the point of death when shot, and, post mortem,
the changes found were practically identical with those found in the first case,
only in a more advanced condition ; and just as the latter exhibited appearances
corresponding to those found in moderately advanced anchylostomiasis, this
case showed those corresponding to the last stages of that disease. That no
cedema of the extremities was present is probably due to the fact that the mule
had been several days lying constantly on its side, but dropsies of the internal
organs were present in a marked degree, the lungs being œdematous, and the
pericardium and peritoneum full of fluid. The animal harboured, moreover, an
even greater variety of parasites than the first case. None were found in the
stomach, but this organ presented all the characteristic appearances of the first
case ; so that it is certain that they had been present there during a previous stage
of the case, a fact which makes it probable that the worms, after escaping from
encystment in that organ, soon pass along the intestine to the large bowel. In
addition to S. tetracanthum, which was present in enormous numbers, 53 being
counted in a single ounce of the fluid contents of the ccecum, two good-sized
worm aneurisms, containing immature S. equinum, were found on the larger
branches of the mesenteric arteries, and a few mature specimens of the same
worm were found free in the intestine ; but I doubt if these had much to do
with the fatal issue of the case. Besides these, whole handfuls of a small
amphistome fluke ( Gastrodiscus Sonsinanis, Cobbold) were found in the cœcum
and colon, in which situation also a few specimens of a pentastome, near
P. tœnioides, were discovered ; while the stomach contained a large number of
hots, and the small intestine, several Ascaris megalocephala Cloquet.
In all, seven post-mortem examinations have been made, and in every one there
8
Scientific Memoirs by
wanting, and, for some time, I despaired of getting any further success. About
nine days after the start, a chance seed spouted up within the cultivation in the
open, and, on the young leaves, was found a Rhabditis much further developed
than any that had been hitherto obtained, a fact which seemed to show that
plants formed, as it were, the intermediate host of the parasite. About the
same time I made the disagreeable discovery that one of my own horses was
affected with the disease. For some time, in spite of liberal feed, he had been
getting out of condition, and at last he became obviously ill and unfit for work,
and an examination of his dung showed that he, too, harboured large numbers of
the same parasite as that which had brought about the destruction of the
officer's charger first seen. Now the stable sweepings were thrown on to a
heap near the stable which the conservancy carts persistently avoided clear-
ing away ; and, as it was placed on a sloping piece of ground, the drainage from
the heap ran down on to the grass below; so, following out the hint given by the
stray seedling, I examined first the dung heap, and then the herbage near it.
The dung heap, like my cultivations, swarmed with immature Rhabdites, and
plenty of such were found also on the grass ; but here, in addition, completely
mature specimens of both sexes, and less mature ones of all grades were
found ; so that the whole question of the life-history of the parasite was solved,
it being evident that, while earlier phases of development of the free stage take
place in horse-dung, the Rhabdites can only attain maturity by crawling out of
their original home on to grass or other forage plants. No one special species
or class of plants appeared to be particularly affected by them, and they were
found indifferently on grass, and upon leguminous, and other dicotyledinous
weeds, that flourished near the heap, the greatest numbers being naturally found
close to it, though a few could be discovered, as much as t 5 feet from the centre
of infection.
Thus, wherever dung is dropped by an infected animal, an area of herbage,
varying in extent with the slope of the ground and the amount of rainfall, will
become so infested with rhabditic sclerostomes in various stages that the infec-
tion of any equine animal feeding on the grass is perfectly inevitable, and as the
Rhabdites appear to be capable of continuous reproduction and multiplication,
there is obviously, in damp climates, no possible limit to the period during which
any given area may remain in a dangerously infective condition ; for, as far as I
can make out, all the conditions for repeated generations are found on forage
plants, once the embryos hatched out from the parasitic eggs have escaped from
the dung of their birthplace.
Having thus traced out briefly the various steps in the investigation, I will
now enter upon the description of the free, or Rhabdites, stage of this very destruc-
tive little nematode.
The number of eggs produced by the entozoic worms is enormous, and,
coupled with the immense numbers of worms often present, renders the diagnosis
observed yesterday in the tray of water, in which latter, however, no further advance has
taken place.
May 3rd.—No change has taken place in either the sand cultivation or in the tray of
water.
From this date no further development of the embryos took place, and,
though many survived for a considerable time, their numbers steadily diminished,
until, by the end of the month, no trace of nematode life could be discovered in
even the original cultivation, all those that had been kept in water having died
out within ten days of the commencement of the experiment.
In an experiment conducted with horse-dung simply damped, the develop-
ment was even slower, ova still living, but unhatched, being observable as late
as the eleventh day; while the ultimate fate of those that hatched out was the
same as that attending the inhabitants of the first cultivation.
The experiment conducted in the open air, the dung being simply spread
over an enclosed patch of garden soil, succeeded somewhat better, the embryos
growing considerably, and their generative organs developing to such an extent
as to occupy an even larger share of the body cavity than the intestinal canal.
They, however, never reached the stage of sexual differentiation, and it was
evident that some essential condition was wanting to enable them to complete
their development. A hint as to the nature of this desideratum was, as I have said,
first afforded by my finding, on the cotyledonary leaves of some chance seedlings
that had sprung up within the little enclosure a Rhabditis which, though not yet
mature, was further advanced than any I had yet seen.
It was about this time that I found that, my own pony was affected. He
had been getting out of condition for some time, and one day the syce reported
that he had refused his food. On more closely examining the animal I found
that he presented, in a less marked degree, the same symptoms as the horse
I had already examined, and microscopical examination of the dung confirmed
the diagnosis. I also found that near the stable a considerable dung heap
existed, and I soon found that there was no need for any further artificial
cultivations, as a very large one, under perfectly natural conditions, was now at
my command.
In the actual dung heap I could find no specimens further advanced than
those I had already reared; but, on examining the rank vegetation on and about
it, I found abundant representatives of all stages up to maturity.
When first hatched out, the embryos are extremely transparent, and the
details of their structure can only with difficulty be made out, the pharyngeal
bulb being the only structure whose outline is at all distinct. They are provided
with a long lash-like tail, quite half as long as the body proper, the lash tapering
to such extreme tenuity that the highest powers are necessary to the resolution
of its entire length, the body itself tapering off so gradually into the lash that
it is hard to define their proportional length. Exclusive of this lash, they
12 Scientific Memoirs by
of the peculiar armature seen in the Rhabditis of the closely-allied Dochmius
duodenalis. This thickened posterior portion communicates with the mouth by
means of a very delicate wavy tube, the musculature of which is comparatively
weak. Its hinder end is encircled by the great central nerve ganglion, from which
proceed forwards a number of fibres, beaded with smaller ganglion cells; the
whole structure of the nervous system differing, ,in fact, in no way from the
arrangements found in closely allied species, and therefore scarcely meriting
any special notice.
The mature male Rhabditis attains or even exceeds 1/16" (1.7 mm,) in length,
o f w h i c h 2 / 9 t h s i s o c c u p i e d b y t h e p h a r y n g e a l p o r t i o n o f t h e d i g e s t i v e t u b e , t h e
remainder being occupied by the intestine, testes and lemniscus. The anterior
extremity of the body is much attenuated, while the caudal is so abruptly conical
as to be almost truncate, all trace of the long lash-like tail of the earlier embryos
having disappeared. The copulatory spiculæ and the common opening of the
spermatic ducts and intestine are placed very close to the end of the body.
There is no copulatory bursa or expanded membrane of any kind ; but, in place
of this, the worm is provided with a powerful clasping apparatus, consisting of
four recurved hooks placed along the sides of the aboral extremity of the body.
The hindmost pair of these is much the largest, measuring about 1/800" (0.034 mm.)
long, and being placed just in front of the copulatory spicules and about 1/250"
(0.1 mm.) from the caudal extremity. The other three pairs are subequal, and
only about half the length of the hindmost; the second being placed only about
1/800" (0.034 mm.) in front, while the other two pairs are placed fully 1/400"
(0.068 mm.) apart.
The fully grown females measure from 1/12—1/10" (2—2.25 mm.) in length,
and closely resemble the males in all points, except in their greater size and in
the absence of the clasping hooks. They are about 1/200" (0.136mm.) thick at
their greatest diameter, viz., opposite the generative opening, which is placed
rather nearer the caudal than the oral extremity of the body.
That they are truly only the free stage the parasitic Sclerostomum tetracan-
thum is shown, not only by their having been traced in all stages from undoubted
eggs of that parasite, but also by the absolute identity in appearance and
size of the ova of both stages. The eggs, however, of the free stage are, at the
time of deposition, always in a much more advanced condition than those of
the parasitic stage, nearly always containing a lively embryo, so that ova exactly
similar to those met with in horse dung can only be found within the maternal
oviducts of the Rhabdites. They give birth to a considerable number of ova,
but do not approach the parasitic stage in prolificness. In no case did I observe
any of the ova to hatch out within the body of the female, and her progeny
resemble in all points the embryos hatched out from the eggs of the parasitic
stage of the worm.
In this description I have, as far as possible, avoided, going into too minute