The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-30
TIE WORM THAT DIETH NOT.
A New Horror-A Ferocious Parasite
Taken from q Mans Leg.

A short time ago a sailor was sent to the
Clty Hospital from the British bark Georglana,
who was supposed to be suffering from a sore
leg. The man had been atling for near three
months. but none of bis shlpmates supposed
that there was anything serious the matter
with him. Accordingly, when, a lew Gays
before his removal to the Hospital, ne de-
clared himself unable to walk about, Inc cap
tain of the ship supposed that he was endeaV-
orinp to make an excuse for getting away
from the vessel, that he might be left In port,
the shIp being prepared to sail in a few days.
when removed to the hospital, the mans right
leg was very much swollen, and manifested
ali the symptoms Of erysIpelas, for which
malady bis affection was at first mis-
taken. At the end of lew days, however
an atecess formed upon the inner sloe Oh Tue
ankle from which, after 1t had burst, pro-
truded about three inches of a white men,
demonstrating substance, about an eightn Oh
an inch In diameter. This singular maniieS-
,ation induced a careful examination OF the
leo. which developed the fact hat the mar
was afflicted with the ~dracunculus, or Guinea
worm. This Is a horrible parasite, found oniy
along the shores of The Indian ocean, Rea
Sea and certain portions of the Mediterranean.
r. Infests damp and muddy soils and impure
water. and generally attacks the feet and
,eos. but sometimes other portions also OF the
hodv. At the time that 1t forsakes is native
element for the more luxurious habltalion of
. --l 49, a. tn onQFna1u larger IMAM a
common flea; but, having once buried Itself
beneath the skIn, it geows with alarming
rapidlty, aud will attain q size vary
Ing from six inches to six feet In length, by
one lwelfth to one-elghth Of an Inch In dame
fer. Il lies dormant until It reaches the age
of maturity, after which 1t commences a series
of wanderlngs and meanderingS about the
muscles and bones, which cause intense
pain to the unsuspecting victim. IL always
travels downwards, and with such rapidity
that. It will sometimes travel the whole
length of the human frame In twenty-four
hours. It will sometimes come to the surface
and lie under the skin like a long white cord,
but should the surgeon attempt TO extract IL
with The knife without first securing 1t with q
nlpper, 1t will elude his grasp and scamper
away With the agility Of an eel. II a portion
OF the worm is removed, the remaining por-
slop will not die, but continues as gay and
lively az ever. The first symptoms of the
Guinea worm are q dlsagreeable itching and IT.
ritation of the infected parts. Alter 1t begins
to move about, Its paths are followed by
external abscesses, and when the paths
lie along the stomach, Internal assesses
also. 1t always ultimately endeavors 10
leave the system by working its way
through the skin, generally near the
ankle, but this Is only after 1t 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 ls one case on record,
however, Of a mar dying from the effects OF
the Guinea worm, whose body and skin were
nothing but o network of these horrible crea-
lures. Death rarely results from the ravsges
of this worm, and when 1t does, 1t ls generally
4he result of some disease produced by the
Inflammation and other effects Of the worms
wanderlngs. The Guinea worm does not con
fine It's ravages to man, but will also attack
dogs and horses. The sailor In question made
a voyage to the eastern coast of Africa about
six months ago, and while there received the
parasites into his system. One Of these
worms has already been extracted from his
Eight leg, but another has made Its appear
ance In the left. he Is doing as we'll as can
be expected under the circumstances. This Ia
probably the first case OF the kind ever known
In Charleston.