In connection with the foregoing, reference should be made to a communication by Whittles, insufficient from a zoological point of view. In a case of hypertrophic gingivitis occurring in a female patient, aged 19, who had never left Birmingham, he found Nematode larvæ in the periosteum of the upper jaw, which was excised after extraction of the right premolar; the genital rudiment could be recognized in them. Similar larvæ were found in the same patient in abscesses in various regions of the skin, and in the case of her mother in the blood. The author considers that the infection took place through a dog, and refers to the case of O’Neil (1875), who found Filariæ in the skin (in the condition known as “craw-craw”), referred by Manson to Filaria perstans. O’Neil’s case was quoted, and attributed to Filaria sanguinis hominis. In conclusion, the author states that he has repeatedly found Nematode larvæ in the blood of persons who suffered from pruritus; in his opinion the parasite had been imported through the agency of troops returned from South Africa. Glatzel found true Filaria larvæ in a pustule of a cutaneous eruption of the trunk and extremities in a patient at Dar-es-Salam.
Skin diseases which are caused by young Nematodes are also observed in dogs (Siedamgrotzky, Möller, J. G. Schneider, Künnemann), foxes (Leuckart), and horses (Semmer). Zürn found young Nematodes (Anguillulidæ) also in pig’s flesh. In Künnemann’s case it was shown that the adult Rhabdites lived in the straw upon which the dog lay.
Rhabditis, sp.
In the fluid obtained by lavage from the stomach of a female patient, aged 16, suffering from ozæna, O. Frese found during two consecutive months Rhabdites of various ages, 0·275 to 0·64 mm. in length, the adults all with eggs; males were not found; transmission into rabbit’s stomach failed, but they could be kept alive in much diluted hydrochloric acid (2 : 1,000) for several weeks. Neither eggs nor larvæ appeared in the fæces of the patient. The nature of the infection, which was perhaps of unique occurrence, remained doubtful.
Genus. Anguillula, Ehrenberg, 1826.
Buccal cavity very small, without lips. Males without bursa, but with a series of papillæ. Lateral lines absent.
Anguillula aceti, Müller, 1783.
Cuticle unstriped, body cylindrical, anterior end tapering but little, posterior end long, pointed. Male up to 1·45 mm. long, 0·024 to 0·028 mm. wide; two pre-anal papillæ, one post-anal; spicules equal, curved, 0·038 mm. long; gubernaculum present; testis extending in front of mid-line of body. Female up to 2·4 mm. long, 0·040 to 0·072 mm. wide; anterior uterus reaching to near the œsophagus, posterior to hind gut. Viviparous; embryos in both or only in one uterine horn, 0·22 mm. long, 0·012 mm. broad.
The species is a frequent inhabitant of vinegar (prepared by older methods), and was once observed for some time by Stiles and Frankland in the urine of a woman; the urine had an acid reaction, and once had a distinct odour of vinegar. It was assumed that the patient, who was hysterical and suffered from chronic nephritis, employed vaginal douches with diluted vinegar, perhaps to deceive her physician or to protect herself against conception. According to Ward, Billings and Miller are said to have reported on two other cases. Ill-effects which might be connected with the vinegar eel (Anguillula aceti) were not present.
Genus. Anguillulina, Gervais and Beneden, 1859.