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688

FILARIASIS

[CHAP.

exhibited the anatomical features and periodicity characteristic of microfilaria bancrofti. One morning he committed suicide by swallowing a large quantity of dilute hydrocyanic acid. Death was almost instantaneous. At the post-mortem examination, made six hours later, a huge lymphatic varix was found occupying the pelvis and back part of the abdominal cavity. In the dilated lymphatic vessels many adult filariæ—F. bancrofti—were found. The distribution of the microfilariæ was studied by counting them in drops of blood expressed from the various organs, and also in sections. The result is summarized in the following tables:—

ENUMERATION OF MICROFILARIÆ IN A DROP OF BLOOD
EXPRESSED FROM THE FOLLOWING ORGANS

OrganNo. of
slides
Aggregate No.
of microfilariæ
Average per
slide
Liver322/3
Spleen331
Brachial venæ comites411128
Bone marrow100
Muscle of heart3365122
Carotid artery1612612
Lung106,751675


ENUMERATION OF MICROFILARIÆ IN SECTIONS OF THE
FOLLOWING ORGANS

OrganNo. of
sections
Aggregate No.
of microfilariæ
Average per
section
Liver1030·3
Spleen400·0
Kidney8131·6
Brain441·0
Muscle (voluntary)320·33
Heart muscle46817·0
Lung630150·16
Lobe of ear410·25
Scrotum400·0
In the lung sections (Fig. 100) the microfilariæ lay outstretched or variously coiled in the vessels, large and small. In the heart-muscle they lay along the capillaries between the fibres; in the kidneys they seemed specially to affect the Malpighian tufts; a very few were found in the capillaries of the brain; vast numbers were found in smears from the inner surface of the carotid arteries. The preparations afforded no explanation as to how the microfilariæ contrive to maintain their position in the blood current, or as to the forces
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