The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-03-15
Insect Larve in the Human Body.

A CURIOUS account of the occurrence of
the Larvae of the Bot-fly (Oestrido) in the
cellular membrane of the human body
was presented to the Detroit meeting Of
the American Association for the Ad-
vancement of Science, by DIR. Charles Fl.
Allen, of Chicago. The victim attacked
by the parasites was boy ten wears of
age, who had spent the summer of 1871 at
Charlottesville, in Prince Edwards ISL
and, and when there had been in the habit
of bathing in pond in q pasture where a
large number of cattle were grazing.
While his body was exposed during bath
ing, the species of Bot-fly which infest
cattle is supposed to have deposited her
eggs beneath the skin.
In March, 1879, DIR. Allen was called to
attend the boy, who had grown feeble and
thin, and was suffering from restless
nights, Occasioned by sensations of
pricking, crawling and biting" which
had been intensified during the previous
ten days. On examination of the parts
thus affected, yellowish line was OBJ
served, extending from the left to the
right side of the front body, while less
distinct line extended up the right
front chest to the right sub-maxillary
gland, over which the cellular tissue was
pulled out. Above and behind the right
ear was swelling the size of two peas
laid side by side. The boy affirmed that the
itching sensations had followed the exact
course defined by the lines, and terminal
ing in the swelling. On opening the little
tumor, light yellow serum flowed from
the wound, and by pressure a larva was
forced out. Two days later a second
larva was taken from similar swelling
which had developed at point directly
over the spine, and an inch or two below
the shoulder blades.
A day or two after, third tumor,
marking its presence by irritating sensa-
tions, was found on the top of the head.
The hair was cut over it, hut, the incis-
ion being delayed, the swelling was
found on the following day to have
moved an inch. Larva number three was
then removed from it. Some days further
on, the boy suffered unusually severe ir-
ritation in the left wrist. where fourth
swelling was visible. The incision was
postponed until the next day, for the pur-
pose of continued observation, when, at
an early hour in the morning, to relieve
the misery of the child, the lancet was
brought into requisition. The swelling
was now gone from the wrist, but dis
cOlOred spot about the left elbow betrayed
the whereabouts of the larvm, which was
thus, dragged forth to the light.
4 Two Of the larv@ were sent to DR..
Hagen, of Harvard University, who de-
clared them p agree with the figures and
descriptions given by DR.. Brauer, of vi
emma. Of the first larval state of Euro-
pean species OF the Bot-fiy named HIPPO
dc11na Diana. The other two larv@ were
sent to DIR. Brauer, Of Vienna, who con-
firmed the opinion OF DR.. Hagen that they
belonged to the species Hjpodsynsa Diana,
and were in the first stageOf larval life.
In answer TO ~ inquiry Of prominent
physician In Prince Edwards Island, It
wAa ascertained that two cases Of patients
suffering from the attack Of the Bot-fy
had been some years ago reported in the
island, but neither Of them had been OBJ
served by medical men. In Tropical
America instances Of species Of Bot-fy
laying its eggs under the skin Of man
have been frequently noted.
A question Of peculiar interest attach
ing to the case observed In Chicago re-
lates TO the power Of motion possessed BY
the lazvp Of 0estrido. OF the three
groups the aas6rjeujbs, and cosjculps,
and the sssb csticulo Into which the
dtstyide are divided, he lazvs Of the frst
two are known 70 mOvc IN the early stAges
Of their exietence; hat entonologf1b
have hszetofoEe asserted thu The laws Of
The third group, 10 which IL H1podeisa
Didna belongS, have NJ the pewer Of To-
connection tn circumstances cxhibit85
In the CO under discmnoiou show with
out . doubt that III larvo Of To 6w5estj-