# Midland Naturalist/Volume 01/Parasites of Man (4)

Parasites of Man.
By T. Spencer Cobbold, M.D,, F.R.5,, Hon, Vice-President Of The Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical Society.
[Continued from page 121.]
Although the twenty-four parasites already brought under the notice of the Section may be fairly regarded us exhausting the list of human trematodes and cestodes, yet several other species of tapeworm have from thine to time been indicated on what are probably insufficient grounds. In this doubtful category I place Weinland’s Taenia megaloon, and also another tapeworm which Dr. Ransome concludes to exist from the diagnostic evidence furnished by the finding and examination of a particular form of cestode ovum. In Weinland's case both loose proglottides and eggs were examined; consequently the strobile may turn out to represent a good species. Weinland figures the ova (in Zoolog. Garten Frankf., 1861, s. 118.) Respecting a variety of manifestly spurious entozaa, such as Frédault's Trachelocampula and the like, I have nothing to say.
​The nematoid group of parasites, next to be considered, are probably better known than any other helminths. This arises partly on account of the excessive frequency of the little threadworm, (Oxyuris,) partly from the circumstance that the large round worm (Ascaris) bears a marked resemblance to the common lob-worm of our gardens, (Lumbricus,) and partly, or perhaps chiefly, because the spiral flesh-worm (Trichina) plays an important rôle in the production of epidemic disease (Trichinosis.) Endless mistakes have arisen from the error of confounding parasitic roundworms with earthworms, The mischievous character of unscientific or inexact knowledge may be illustrated by the fact that I have known nervous persons so seriously alarmed at the appearance of lumbricoid entozoa that they have regarded their presence as an omen of approaching dissolution. I have even known a spurious nematoid to be dreaded as "the worm that dieth not." It is very important that correct views should be entertained respecting the nature and sources of the various members of this group of parasites. Nothing is move absurd than the popular notion that nematoid entozoa, especially threadworms, (Oxyurides,) arise or make their appearance in consequence of an impoverished state or cachexia of the body of the host. This ridiculous conception, which is as old as the hills, is ever and anon re-asserted with all the pride and confidence which should only he displayed when any real and valuable discovery has to be announced, The notion, as it now stands, is a feeble remnant of the theory of equivocal generation, For the establishment of the truth of this theory the spontaneous generationists always pointed, triumphantly as they supposed, to the mode of origination of the entozoa. The truth is, neither threadworms nor heliminths of any other kind arise from diseased conditions. They often produce constitutional disturbance in their victims, this bad effect being misinterpreted as» cause of the appearance of the entozoa themselves. A healthy person is just as likely—nay, he is even more likely to entertain parasites than a feeble person, True, the strong host may suffer comparatively little, whilst the weak host succumbs to his guests. The host is the entozoan's native territory, What our native island is to us, our bodies are to parasites. To attack, to invade, to infest, is their legitimate prerogative; and for this end it must be admitted that their organisation is admirably adapted. To be sure, it is equally our prerogative to refuse the would-be guests admission, but any method of resistance likely to prove effectual must be based upon scientific conclusions resulting for the most part from experimental research: Ancient dogmas and pre-conceived opinions to often operate to obscure the mental vision, and thus prevent the adoption of measures calculated to cheek not a few of the many evils to which our common flesh is heir.
Nematoda.
25.—Trichina spiralis, Owen.
26.—Trichecephalus dispar, Rudelphi.
27.—Fiiaria Bancrofti, Cobbold.
Lit.—Wücherer, in Gaz. Med. da Bahia, Dec., 1868, and Sept., 1869, and in Hallise's Zeitschrift, 1869, and in Arch. de Méd. Nawale, 1870; Salisbury, in Days Amer. Journ., 1868; Cobbald, in Brit. Med. Journ. July, 1872, and in Lectures on Holminth., 1872; in B.M.J., June, 1876; in the Lancet for July and Oct., 1877; in Reports of the Proceedings of the Linnean Soc.; of the Pathological Soc.; of the Medical Society of London; in the Lancet for March; in Nature of the same month, and in the Popular Science Review for April, 1878; Leuckart, Die Mensch. Par. H., 1876; Corré, Rev. des Sci. Nat., Sept., 1872; Crevaux, De Phématuric chyteuse, &e., Paris, 1872; Silva-Lima (with Crevaux,) Mom. subre a hematuria chylosa on gordurosa, (Bahia, ​1876.) and in Gaz. Mod. da Bahia, Sept. 1877, and in the Lancet for March, 1878; Fonecervines, in Robin's Lécons, 1875; Lewis, on a hæmatozooa in human blood, in Gov. Rep. for 1874, and separately (Calcutta 1871,} in Indian Annals, 1873, in Med. Press, 1873, in Lond. Med. Record (rep. by me,) 1873, in Nature, 1873, and in his memoir on the Path. significance of the nematode hætmatazoa, Calcutta, 1874; see also Lewis's recent "Remarks regarding the Hæmatozoa found in the stomach of Culex Mosquito," in Proceed. of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, for March, 1878, (p. 89); Sonsino. Richerche interno, &c., in Rend. della R. Accad. di Napoli, 1874, and in Arch. Gen. de Méd., June, 1875; Arsuio, in Arch. d. Méd, Navale, 1875; Magalliies, P. S. de, in Guz, M. da Bahie, 1877, and in O Progresso Merlico for Dec.. 1877; O'Neill, on Craw-craw. in Lancet, Feb., 1875: Bonrel-Roneière, in Arch. de Méd. Navale, March, 1878, (soc Aranjo); Manson, Report on Hæmatozoa. in the bth part of the Customs Gazette, Shanghae, 1877, and rep. in Mod. Tines and Gazette, also additional cases in M. T. and G. for March, 1878, also (in a joint communication with me) in rep. of the proceedings of the Med. Soc. of London, in the Lancet, March 30, 1878; Le Ray de Méricourt, in Appendix to Nouvelle phase de ls question relative & la nature paresitaire de la chylurie, (Déconyerte du représentant adulte de la Filsire de Wücheres,) being a translation of Silva Lima's memoir, quoted above, (Arch. da Méd. Navale, Dec. 1877.) See also translations, with additions, in the Veterinarian for Feb 1878; Aranjo, A. J. P. da S, Memoria sobre a Filariose, &c., (Bahia, 1875,) see also Bourel-Tioneitre’s analysis of and commentary upon the writings of Silva Lima and Silva Araajo in the Archives above quoted; Santos. F. dos, in Gaz. Med. da Bahia for March, 1877; Moura, J. de, Thèse de concours, 1877
[To be continued.]
This work was published before January 1, 1930, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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