Parasites: A Treatise on the Entozoa of Man and Animals: Including Some Account of the EctozoaCobbold, T. Spencer (Thomas Spencer)
Science
Parasites: A Treatise on the Entozoa of Man and Animals: Including Some Account of the Ectozoa
Cobbold, T. Spencer (Thomas Spencer)
Helminths; Parasites
As commonly observed in the human body our young Trichinæ appear as
spirally-coiled worms in the interior of small, globular, oval, or
lemon-shaped cysts, which latter appear as minute specks scarcely
visible to the naked eye. These specks resemble little particles
of lime, being more or less calcareous according to the degree of
degeneration which their walls have undergone. In shape and general
aspect they are not altogether unlike the eggs of certain nematoid
worms, but their size alone sufficiently distinguishes them. They
measure on an average 1/78″ in length by 1/130″ in breadth. The
organised capsules are not essential to the further development of
the parasite, and are rather to be regarded as abnormal formations,
or rather, perhaps, as products resulting from an effort of nature to
protect and thus prolong the life of the occupant. They are frequently
altogether wanting. The capsuled Trichinæ measure 1/23″ in length by
about 1/630″ in breadth. When fully formed they not only exhibit a
well-marked digestive apparatus, but also reproductive organs, which are
often, indeed, sufficiently developed to determine the sex.
Notwithstanding the large number of experiments that have been more
or less recently made by investigators, little or nothing has been
discovered calculated to disturb the conclusions set forth by Leuckart,
who writes as follows:--“(1) _Trichina spiralis_ is the juvenile state
of a little round worm, previously unknown, to which the generic title
of Trichina must remain attached. (2) The sexually mature Trichina
inhabits the intestinal canal of numerous warm-blooded animals,
especially mammalia (also of man), and constantly in great numbers.
The duration of its life extends from four to five weeks. (3) At the
second day after their introduction the intestinal Trichinæ attain
their full sexual maturity. (4) The eggs of the female Trichinæ are
developed within the uterus of the mother, into minute filaria-like
embryos, which, from the sixth day, are born without their egg-shells.
The number of young in each mother-worm is at least from ten to fifteen
thousand. (5) The new-born young soon after commence their wandering.
They penetrate the walls of the intestine and pass directly through
the abdominal cavity into the muscles of their bearers, where, if the
conditions are otherwise favorable, they are developed into the form
hitherto known. (6) The directions in which they proceed are in the
course of the intermuscular connective tissues. (7) Only the striped
muscle (that of the heart excepted) contains Trichinæ. The majority of
the wandering embryos remain in those sheathed muscular groups which
are nearest to the cavity of the body, especially in those which are
smaller and most supplied with connective tissue. Speaking generally,
their number decreases with the distance from the abdomen, being,
however, more numerous in the anterior half of the body. (8) The embryos
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account