Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-07
AN ILLINOIS SENSATION.
Discovery of a Strange Disease at
EIEin, EIIinOiS-A Lady's Body Full
OF HexagOnaI, HeadIess Parasites
Horrible Death 10

Horrible Death.
CHICAGO, Dec. 4.-The city of Elgin,
some forty miles west of Chicago, is
greatly excited by the appearance in that
vicinity of a strange disease, the first
known case of which terminated fatally
on Friday last. The facts are as follows:
On Friday week Mrs. c. w. Daniels, a
lady p years of age, who was married
two years ago and gave birth to a child
eleven mouths since, was Frustrated by
what seemed at first to be pTemonitory
symptoms of typhoid fever. She had not
been very well for some time previous,
but nothing serious was anticipated
until Sunday, when she was compelled
to take to her bed and place herself
under medical treatment. She CON-
planned of pains in her bones and sore
ness in her flesh. Nothing very unusual,
however, was observed until Sunday
morning, when the milk from her breast
attracted attention by its dark color, it
looking like the wastings of an ink-b0t-
Tie. Submitting the milk to a micro
scOpic examination, it was found to con-
tain immense numbers of animalcul9,
different in size and shape from any hu.
man parasite of which the attending ply
sicisn had ever seen or heard. They
seemed to be somewhat hexagOnsl in
form, and longer one way than the other.
They did not seem to have any head, bat
were evidently alive, judging from the
way in which they moved about. Their
size was estimated by the doctor in vary
ing from one hundred thOusandth to five
1,erT Nval I4l oh, -,
dismster. The power of the microscope
used varied from $50 to 800 diamaters,
the former power being required to make
the insect visible They were not tri-
china, as the doctor was well acquainted
with that form of parasite, and this new
kind was much smaller and of an entirely
different shape.
The authorities were searched, but
none of them gave any clue by which
they could be identified, and those wAh
whom he consulted were compelled to
believe that they had discovered a new
| species of human parasite. In the mean
time the patient grew worse. She suf-
fored terribly, and complained of sore
mess all over her body. Nothing could
be done to relive her. She could not bear
bath, and could hardly bear to be
touched. She fingered in agony until the
afternoon at ! o'clock, when she died.
There was some reason at first to be-
licve that the parasites were the product
Of some disease of the breast, and were
confined TO that locality. The doctor de-
tCrmined to test the matter, and, antici-
| patiUg her death, he was prepared 10 do
1 r,
and while the body was still warm. he
made an incision in the calf of the leg,
and, drawing the lancet, examined the
moisture which covered it. He found
three of the parasites, only one of which
was alive. They were similar in all re-
spects 10 those found in the fluid taken
from the breast He then dissec,ed the
tiliatis arteries muscle of the leg, includ-
ing small portion of the surrounding
! flesh The muscle presented a granular
appearance, as if covered with grains of
sand These grains the doctor presumes
were parasites.
The investigations were conducted by
/ DR.. Clark, assisted by Dr. Ryrrel and
neither of them, nor any of the faculty
who have been asked their opinion, are
able TO explain the presence Of what they
term a parasitical phenomena. Further
examination of the muscles will be made,
and it is expected that some light will be
shed upon what is now a mystery. The
| physicians think that the parasites occas-
toned death, if they were not the imme-
| date cause; for while some of the SYM
| IONS of typhoid remained to the end, they
1 II 81
ness and throbbing especially, and death
| came sooner and more suddenly than in
cases of unmiStaksble typhoid The baby
I had been pininG for some time before his
mother took sick, but as soon as he was
weaDed he recovered his health and IS now
more robust than ever. He was not
weaned until his mother was confined to
her bed The doctor reports that he ex-
amiued the child's blood, which was per
feetE healthy.