Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-27
HORRIBLE SCREW WORMS.
Sometimes They Attack Human Beings ans
Occasion Awful Trouble.

Sometimes They Attack Human Beings and
Occasion Awful Trouble.
So long as those Objectionable creatures
known as ''screw worms" which are the larvae
OF a species of fly, confine their attacks to do
nestle animals the damage they do may be
endured with moderate degree of patience
Occasionally, however, they assail human
beings, with the most painful and sometimes
fatal results. The winged insect finds a
person sleeping out of doors and lays its eggs
in the mouth or nostr;ls. Subsequently the
worms are hatched out and proceed to feed
upon the tissues Such case is referred to in
the last number of "Insect Life" published by
the Department of Agriculture.
The victim was a lady who spent last sum-
mer on farm ten miles from ST. Louis. OPP
loslte the farm was sheep pasture. Sheep, it
will be remembered, are the animals most
frequently attacked by screw worms. One day
Mrs. A., as she may be called, was seized with
violent and continuous sneezIng fits and in
forty-oight hours she was in great distress,
with face. nose and throat much swollen. The
doctor, however, was unable to distinguish the
symptoms from those OF severe influenza.
HORRIBLE DISCOVERY.
On the morning of the fourth day Mrs A. 8
husband appeared early at the doctors Office
and said with horror that his wife had in sneez-
ing expelled from her nose two or three white
worms. distinguished surgeon was sum-
moned for consultation and by the aid of mir
rors the interior cavities behind the nose and
mouth were examined. BY these means it WIS
discovered that small white larvn were attached
by their mouth hooks to the mucous memb rane
all over the inside passages. Forceps ard
tweezcrs were brought into reputation and with
much difficulty twenty-five thirty of the
worms were extracted. Considerable force had
to be used, because chloroform and carboliZed
fluid had no effect to make them loosen their
hold. Indeed, upon being disturbed, they
would contract so as to almost bury themselves
In the intamed and bleeding tissues. The suf-
ferings OF the patient from the parasites and
the surgical operations can better be imagined
than described.
Three times dag for as many days the ply
sicians worked at the re movGl OF the Iarya until
they lad more than 200 in alcohol Some of
these were taken from behind the tcnsils. en-
tirely out of sight by means of peculiarly
carved forceps directed with the most accurate
knowledge OF the anatomy OF the parts. In the
meantime suicidal mania had developed and
the sufferer cntrcated her attendant 20 be al
lowed to end her lie. 1t seems to be fact
that all persons afflicted with screw worms re-
quIre careful watching to prevent suicide
which. under the circumstances, is not at all
surprising.
RELIEF AT LAST.
On the eighth day no more worms could be
discovered and the patient seemed grea tly re
lieved. The inflammation rapidly subsidized.
and in the course of few weeks recovery was
complete. In the ordinary course Of nature
these worms fall to the ground as soon as they
are full grown, so into the cErysallis condition
and come ont later in the shape Of winged flies,
which lose no time after mating in laying their
eggs in some such suitable place for their in
cubation the nostrils of sheep. As to the
origin of the attack described. Mrs. A. had an
indis:inct recollection of having been disturbed
while taking daytime nap i'll a hammock, but
could not recall the fact that any insect at
tempted 10 enter her nose. People sometimes
die from this complaint, while others recover
with great mutiation Of the parts attacked.
The moral OF the story is that it is not pradcn nj
to sleep out Of doors during the day with tho
face uncovered