When these worms produce a diseased state of body, those remedies are supposed to be the most effectual, that operate partly by irritating the external surface of their bodies, so as to make them quit their hold, and partly by violent contractions in the intestines, which may sometimes divide their bodies or even destroy them by bruising. Electrical shocks, passed frequently through the abdomen, it is supposed, might be beneficial, as the lower orders of animals are in general easily destroyed by electrical shocks.

In injecting these Tania with coloured size, in order to preserve them, three feet in length, from the head downwards, has been filled by a single push of a small syringe; but the injection would not pass from below upwards beyond the joint, owing, as it is supposed, to a valvular apparatus, situated in the side canals,. immediately below the places where the cross canals are sent off.

THE INDIAN THREAD-WORM.

THIS species is commonly found both in the East and West Indies. It enters the naked feet of the slaves, and occasions very troublesome itchings, and sometmes excites even fever and inflammation. It particularly attacks the muscles of the arms and legs, from whence it is

only to be extracted by means of a piece of silk or thread tied round its head. But the greatest caution is necessary in this simple operation, lest the animal, by being strained too much, should break; for, if any part remain under the skin, it grows with redoubled vigour, and becomes a cruel and sometimes a fatal enemy.

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Dampier tells us, that these worms are no thicker than a large brown thread, but, as he had been informed, are five or six yards long"If they are broken in drawing out, that part which remains in the flesh will putrify, be very painful, and endanger the patient's life, or at least the use of the limb; and I have known some that have been scarified and cut strangely to take out the worm." He was unfortunate enough to have one of these creatures in his own ankle. I was (he says) in great torment before it came out my leg and ankle swelled, and looked very red and angry, and kept a plaister to bring it to a head. At last, drawing off my plaister, out came about three inches of the worm, and my pain abated presently. Till that time, I was ignorant of my malady, and the gentlewoman at whose house I was, took it for a nerve; but I knew well enough what it was, and presently rolled it up on a small stick. After that I opened the place every morning and evening, and strained it out gently, about two inches at a time, not without some pain, till at length I had got out about

two feet." He afterwards had it entirely de stroyed by one of the negroes, who applied to it a kind of rough powder, not unlike tobaccoleaves dried and crumbled very small.

M. D'Obsonville received in his right leg the germ of one of these worms. He observed that its head was of a chesnut colour, and that, to the naked eye, it appeared to terminate in a small black point. On pressing it a little with a pin, and examining it with a common magnifying glass, he fancied he perceived something like a little trund or tongue, capable of being pushed out or contracted. The body was not thicker than a strong thread; but, when the animal was extracted, it was found to be of the length of two or three yards. It appeared to be formed of a series of small rings, united to each other by an exceedingly fine membrane, and a single intestine extended through the body. This worin was extracted in the usual way; and the reason he gives for the injury done by breaking these animals is, that they are full of a whitish sour lymph, which immediately excites inflammation, and not unfrequently produces, afterwards, an abscess or gangrene. A worm in his leg was twice broken, and twice occasioned an abscess. At last, at his own request, the part affected was rubbed with a preparation of mercury and in eight or ten days the effect surpassed his hopes; for not only the body of the insect came away, but the wound,

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which was then more than three inches long, and considerably inflamed, was, in this time, almost entirely healed.

THE INFERNAL FURY.

IN Finland, Bothnia, and the northern provinces of Sweden, the people were often seized with an acute pain, confined to a mere point, in the face, or other exposed part of the body, which afterwards encreased to a most excruciating degree, and sometimes, even within a few hours after its commencement, proved fatal. This disorder was more particularly observed in Finland, especially about marshy places, and always in autumn. At length, it was discovered, that the pain instantly succeeded something which dropped out of the air, and almost in a moment penetrated and buried itself in the flesh. On more accurate attention, the Fury was detected as the cause. It creeps up the stalks of sedge-grass and shrubs in the marshes, whence it is often carried off by the wind; and if naked parts of the skin of any persons happen to be directly in its course, it immediately adheres and buries itself within. The first sensation is said to be like that arising from the prick of a needle. This is succeeded by a violent itching of the part soon afterwards by acute pain, a

red spot and gangrene, and at last by inflammatory fever, accompanied with fainting. In the course of two days at the furthest, death follows, unless the worm be extracted immediately; which is very difficult to be done The FinJanders say, however, that a poultice of curds or cheese, will allay the pain, and entice the animal out. Perhaps the most effectual method is, carefully to dissect between the muscles where it has entered, and thus extract it with the knife. Linnæus, as he once was collecting insects, was stung by a Fury in so dreadful a manner, that for a little while there was great doubt whether he would recover.

THE COMMON HAIR-WORM.

THE popular name of this worm originated in the notion, that it was produced from the hair of horses and other animals; a notion that is even yet prevalent among the lower classes of the people. Its Linnæau name of Gordius, originated in the habit that it has of twisting itself in such a peculiar manner, as to resemble a complicated gordian knot. In this state, it often continues for a considerable time, and then slowly disengaging itself, extends its body to the full length.