mented vitellus, and measure 63 μ by 41 μ. This parasite does not occur in large numbers; and, as its mouth is unarmed and its dimensions are exceedingly minute, it does not appear calculated to give rise to any particular symptoms.
Gnathostomum spinigerum (Owen, 1838)
Synonyms.—Cheiracanthus siamensis; Strongylus siamense (Levinsen, 1839).
History.—Gnathostomum spinigerum was discovered by Deuntzer in Bangkok (Siam), and described by Levinsen, who proposed to call it Cheiracanthus siamensis.
Geographical distribution.—So far it has been seen in Siam only. It was met with in three patients, one of whom had five or six of these worms.
Fig. 190.—Gnathostomum spinigerum.
(After Levinsen.)
The parasite.—Only one female specimen was preserved and forwarded to Levinsen (Fig. 190). It measured 9 mm. in length by 1 mm. in breadth. The cephalic extremity, slightly narrower than the rest of the body, had the appearance of a rostellum surmounted by two lips and was surrounded by eight rows of hooklets. The posterior extremity terminated in a three-lobed prominence, at the base of which the anus opened. The anterior third of the body was beset with tridentate spines, followed by scattered simple spines, which gradually became smaller and then disappeared entirely. The vulva opened a little behind the middle of the body. Subsequently, Leiper described the male—it measured 10·5 mm. by 0·6 mm. It had two large fleshy lips; two unequal spicules; two preanal and two postanal papillæ. Leiper considers its normal host in Siam to be the cat.
Life-history and pathogenesis.—We know nothing of the life-history of Gnathostomum spinigerum. Other species of the genus live in the stomach of various vertebrates. Before attaining maturity they are found in cysts beneath the mucosa. G. spinigerum is found in various kinds of wild cats (Felis catus, F. concolor, F. tigris). Lewis found it in the pariah dogs of Calcutta. G. hispidum lives in the stomach of hogs. Fedschenko found it in a Turkestan wild hog and in a Hungarian domestic hog. Csokor found it in hogs slaughtered at Vienna, Strose in Bakony's hogs, and Collin in cattle in Germany. In Vienna butchers have long known this parasite under the name of "three-coloured worm." The parasite described by Levinsen came from a young Siamese woman, who presented a livid and painful tumefaction of the breast with slight fever. Rounded nodules the size of beans appeared at the seat of inflammation, beneath the skin. From one of these nodules the gnathostomum protruded.
