Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-11-02

about, the Captain of the ship supposed
he was endeavoring to make an excuse
for getting away from the vessel, that
he might be left in port, the ship being
prepared to sail i'll few days. When
removed to the hospital the mans right
leg was very much swollen and mani
tested all the signs of eyrsipelas, for
which malady his affection was at first
mistaken. AT the end OF q few days,
however, an abscess formed upon the
inner side of the ankle, from which,
after it had burst, protruded about
three inches of q white, membranous-
looking substance, about an eighth oil
an inch in diameter. This singular
manifestation induced a careful exami'
nation OF the leg, which developed the
! fact that the man was afflicted with the
( dracu,culuS, or Guinea worm. This Is a
horrible parasite, found only along the
shores of the Indian Ocean, Red Sea,
and certain portions of the Mediter-
ranean. 1t infests damp and muddy
soils and impure water, and generally
attacks the feet and legs, but sometimes
other portions of the body. At the time
that it forsakcs its native element for
the more luxurious habitation OF flesh
and blood it is scarcely larger than a
common flea; but, having once buried
itself beneath the skin, it grows with
alarming rapidity, and will attain size
VARYING from six inches to six feet in
length, by one.twelfth to one-eighth OF
an inch IN diameter. 1t lies dormant
until it reaches the age of maturity,
after which it commences series OF
wandcrings and meanderings about the
muscles and bones which cause intense
pain to the unsuspectlng victim.
1t always travels downwards, and with
such rapidity that it will sometimes
travel the whole Tenth of the human
frame in twenty.four hours. 1t will
sometimes come to the surface and lie
under the skin like long white cord
but should the surgeon attempt to extrl-
cate it with the knife without hrst
securing it with nipper, it will eludc
his grasp and scamper away with the
agility of an eel. If portion of the
worm is removed the remaining portion
will not die, but continue as gay and
lively as ever. The first symptoms OF
the Guinea worm are q disagreeable
itching and irritation of the infected
parts. Alter it begins to move about its
paths are followed by external Assesses,
and when the paths lie along the
stomach, internal assesses also. 1t
always ultimately endeavors to leave
the system, working its way through the
skin generally near the ankle, but this
is only after has left from ten to fifteen
young behind. The usual number OF
worms that are found in one person
varies from one to fifty. There is one
case on record, however, of man dying
from the effects of the Guinea worm,
whose body and skin were nothing but
network of these horrible creatures.
Death rare ly results from the ravagcs of
this worIa, and when it does it is gen
orally the result of some disease pro-
duced by the inflammation and other
effects Of the worms wandering. The
Guinea worm does not contine its
ravages to man, but will also attack
dogs and horses. The sailor in question
made voyage to the eastern coast OF
Africa about SIX months ago, and while
there received the parasites into his
system. One of the worms has already
been extracted from his right leg, but
another has made its appearance in the
left. He is doing as we'll as can be cx-
pected under the circumstances
CharleSt2n IS. c. Meas.