Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-25
Au Unpleasant LEDGER.

A short time ago a sailor went to the city
hospital from the British bark Georgiaua, who
was supposed TO be suffering from a sore leg.
The man had been ailing for three months, but
none of his shipmateS supposed there was any
thing serious the matter with him. According
ly when, few days before his removal TO the
hospital, he declared himself unable TO walk
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 in few days.
When removed to the hospital the mans right
leg was very much swooen and manifested all
the symptoms of erysipelas, for which maady
his affection was first mistaken. At the end of
few days, however, an abcess formed on the
inner side of the ankle, from which, after it had
burst, protruded about three inches of white,
membraGeous 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 the drdctl-
culuS or Guinea worm. This is a horrible par
asite found only along the shores of the Indian
ocean, Red sea, and certain portions of the Med
iterranean. 1t infests damp and muddy soils
and impure water, and generally attacks the feet
and legs, out sometimes other portions of the
body. At the time it iorsakes its native element
for the more luxurious habitation of flesh and
blood it is scarcely larger than common flea;
but having once buried itself beneath the skin,
it grows with alarming rapidity, and will reach
length, by One-twelfth TO one-eighth of an inch
in diameter. 1t lies dormant until it reaches the
age of maturity, alter which it commences
a series of wanderings and meanderngs
about the muscles and bones, which cause
intense pain to the unsuspecting victim. 1t
always travels downwards, and with such
rapidity that it will sometimes travel the whole
length of the human frame in twenty-lour hours.
1t will sometimes come to the surface and lie
under the skin like long white cord; but should
the surgeon attempt TO extract with the knife
without first securing it with a nipper, it will
elude 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 disagree
able itching and irritation of the infected parts.
Alter it begins to move about its paths are fol
lowed 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 it has left from
ten TO fifteen young behind The usual num-
Der of worms that are found in one person varies
from one to fifty. There is one case on record,
however, of a man dying from the effects of the
Guinea worm, whose body and skin were moth
ing but a network of these horrible creatures.
Death rarely results from the ravages of this
worm, and when it does it is generally the result
of some disease produced by the inflammation
and other effects of the worms wandering. The
Guinea worm does not confine its 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 the worms had already been extracted
from his right leg, but another has made its
appearance in the left. He is doing as well as
can be expected under the circumstances.