The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-02


time ago Ii sailor was sent to the city hos
pital from the British bark Georgiana,
who was supposed to be suffering from a
sore leg. The man bad been ailing for
near three months, but none of his ship
mates supposed that there was anything
serious the matter with him. According
ly, when, IL few days before his removal
to the hospital, he declared himself un-
able to walk about, the captain OF the
ship supposed that he was endeavoring
to make al excuse for getting away from
the vessel, that he might be left in port,
the ship being prepared to snil in "a few
days. When removed to the hospital,
| the mans right leg was very much
swollen, aud manifested ull the symp-
| toms of erysipelas, for which malndy his
affection was ut first mistaken. At the
end Of few days. however, an abscess
formed upon the inner side of the ankle
from which, after it had burst, protrud.
ed about three inches of white mem
branous looking substance, about an
eighth of an inch in diameter. This
singular manifestation induced a careful
examination of the leg. which developed
the fact that the man was afflicted with
tue drdcanculus, or Guinea worm. This
is horrible parasite. found only along
the shores Of the Indian Ocean. Red Sea
and certain portions of the Mcditerra-
mean. 1t infests damp and muddy soils
and impure water, aud generally attacks
the feet and legs. but sometimes other
portions also of the body. At the time
that it forsakes its native element for the
more luxurious hubitntion of flesh and
blood. it is scarcely larger than com
mon flea; but, having once buried itself
beneath the skin. it grows with alarming
rapidity, aud will attain size varying
| from six inches to six feet in length, by
one-twelfth to onc-cighth Of an inch III
diameter. It lies dormant until it reach
es the uge of maturity, after which it
commences O series of wenderiugs and
rneanderings about tho muscles and
| bones, which canses intense pain to the
unsuspecting victim. It always travels
it will sometimes travel the whole length
of the human frame in twenty-four
hours. 1t will sometimes come to the
surface nnd lie under the skin like long
white cord; but sh0uld the surgeon at-
tempt to extract it with the knife with
out first securing it with u nipper, it. will
elude his grasp aud scamper away with
the agility of an eel. If "a portion Of the
worm is removed, the remaining portion
will not die. bnt continues rs guy and
lively ns ever. The first symptoms Of the
Guinea worm are IL disagroeabIe itching
and irritation of the infected parts.
fter it begins to move about, its paths
are followed by external abscesses, and
when the paths lie along the stomach,
internal aDSoesse5 also. Ii always titi-
mately endeavors to leave the system by
working its way through the skin, gene
rally near the ankle, but this is only
after it has left from ten to fifteen young
behind. Tho usual number of worms
that arc found III one person varies from
one to fifty. There is one case on re-
cord, however. of man dying from the
effects OF the Guinea worm, whose body
and skin were nothing bat network Of
these horrid creatures. Death rarely re-
suits from the ravages of this worm, md
when it does, it is generally the result of
some disease produced by the inflamma-
ton and other effects Of the worms wan
derings. The Gninea worm does not
confine its ravages to mau, but will also
attack dogs and horses. The sailor in
question made voyage to tho Eastern
coast Of Afrion about six months ago,
and while there received tue parasites
into his system. Ono Of these worms
has already been extracted from his
right leg, but another has made its ap-
penrnnce in the left lie is doing us we'll
as can be expected under the circum-
stances. This is probably the first case
Of the kind ever known in Charleston.
Charleston Ners.
ARREST OF CoUSrERrEIrEns. Oscar J.
McAfee. Canadian hy birth, was
arrested in Salisbury by Marshal Bosher