TRIOCEPHALUS DISPAR.—SYNONYMS: Long thread-worm; Whip-worm.
The long thread-worm is a not unfrequent intestinal parasite of man, though rarely observed unless specially sought, as it ordinarily gives rise to little or no disturbance. It is common in England, Southern Europe, and the Orient. Davaine reports that half the cases of persons investigated in Paris were infested with it; it also occurs in this country. It inhabits the lower end of the ileum, the cæcum, and vermiform appendix, and feeds on the intestinal contents. It commonly occurs in small numbers, two or three to a dozen, occasions no evident inconvenience, and is rarely discharged with the evacuations.
The long thread-worm is yellowish-white and cylindrical, with the anterior half or more of the body attenuated in a hair-like manner. The female reaches about two inches in length, has the tail end conical, and the anus subterminal. The male is about two-thirds the length of the former, has the thicker portion of the body enrolled, and the tail end blunt. The eggs are laid in the intestine and discharged with the feces. The subsequent history of the parasite and its mode of infecting man remain unknown.
Only in cases where long thread-worms are numerous do they give rise to trouble. According to Leuckart, Pascal gives as constant symptoms of the presence of large numbers of the parasite, headache, redness of the face, prominence of the eyes, small, irregular, and intermittent pulse, and pains in the lower part of the abdomen.
The usual remedies addressed to the seat-worm and round-worm will most probably be equally applicable to the long thread-worm.
LEPTODERA STERCORALIS.—SYNONYMS: Anguillula stercoralis; Rhabditis stercoralis.
This is a minute nematode worm recently observed infesting French soldiers in Cochin China. It is about half a line in length, and inhabits the small and large intestine, and also penetrates into the biliary and pancreatic ducts. It occurs in myriads and occasions diarrhoea and dysentery. Another species, Leptodera intestinalis, nearly three times as large, has been noticed in smaller number associated with the former. The eggs of these worms are laid in the intestines, and both together are discharged in multitudes with the feces. They are probably introduced into man by drinking stagnant water, and undergo complete development after passing through the stomach.
It is probable that the remedies employed in the treatment of the familiar seat-worms and round-worms would be equally efficacious in the expulsion of these parasites.
ANCHYLOSTOMUM DUODENALE.—SYNONYMS: Strongylus duodenalis; Dochmius duodenalis; Sclerostoma duodenale.
This intestinal parasite, first noticed in Milan by Dubini in 1838, is of more dangerous character than any of the nematode worms previously described. In Europe, besides Italy, it was frequently observed among the workmen of the St. Gothard tunnel. It is exceedingly common in Egypt, and Bilharz found it in nearly all his post-mortem examinations of bodies. It probably prevails to a considerable extent in most tropical countries, including the East and West Indies and Brazil. There is also reason to suspect, from the nature of the affection it induces, that it may exist in the Southern States.