Lumbricus Latus, or a Discourse Read before the Royal Society of the Joynted Worm, Wherein a great Many Mistakes of Former Writers concerning It, are Remarked; Its Natural History from More Exact Observations is Attempted; and the Whole Urged, as a Difficulty against the Doctrine of Univocal Generation: By Edward Tyson M. D. Col. Med. Lond. Nec Non Reg. Societ. Soc.

PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. April 10, 1683. The CONTENTS. 1. LUMBRICUS LATUS, or a Discourse read before the Royal Society of the Joyned Worm, wherein a great many Mistakes of former Writers concerning it, are remarked; its Natural History from more exact Observations is attempted; and the whole urged, as a Difficulty, against the Doctrine of Univocal Generation: by Edward Tyson M.D. Col. Med. Lond. nec non Reg. Societ. Soc. 2. Observations of the Eclipse of the Moon Feb. 11, 1682, by divers learned Astronomers at divers places. 3. Observations of the same Eclipse at Dantzig by the judicious Astronomer Joh. Hevelius, as sent by Him to the Royal Society. The consideration of Insects, and their manner of generation, as it is a subject of curious speculation; so of late hath been much illustrated by the laborious researches of many inquisitive persons: whose travels vels therein, tho' they have much advanced the doctrine of univocal generation; and bid very fair for the exploding of that, too easily received, and common error, of their production from putrefaction, yet one great difficulty still remains with me, how to account for several of those, that are bred in Animal bodies not such as we may suppose to be hatched from the eggs of the like kind, that are received with the food or other ways; but of whom we cannot meet with a parallel, or of the same species, out of the body, in the whole world as is known besides. I shall instance only in two, the Lumbricus Latus, and Teres. Of the former I shall give at present only these remarks: wherein it's difference from any other does more remarkably appear. 1. being flat. 2. jointed after a peculiar manner. 3. the great disproportion of both extremes. 4. the vast length 'tis often of. 5. the head so remarkably beset with hooked Spikes. 6. what has never that I know of, been remarked of this, or any other Insect or Animal in the World besides; the great number of Mouths it hath; more than the Poets fain'd Briareus had hands, or Argus eyes, viz. in every Joynrone. 7. That any part of the body being broken off from the rest, should still remain alive, and thrive. All which particulars, besides what others may be added, if duly considered, will render it difficult to give an instance of the like out of the body, from whence, or from the Seed of the same, it may be any ways thought, this may be propagated here. My other Instance is the Lumbricus teres Intestinalis; which tho' it holds more analogy with those called Intestina Terra, or common Earth-Wormes, as to the outward shape and forms, yet within are vastly different; as by comparing the Anatomy of both, will appear. And I very much question, as to the contrivance of the inward Organs, whether we can meet with any parallel of it, in the World, out of the Microcosme, or Animal bodies, besides sides. For altho' different Climes, or different places of habitation might much affect the outward shape, and cause a difference; yet it is hard to conceive, how it should cause so vast an alteration, in the most principal inward Organs. However tho' we are gravel'd, in assigning how first this sort of Worm should come into the body; yet being once there; there is nothing more plain, than that they are propagated by an univocal generation; there being so perfect a distinction of Sexes, Male and Female; and the Organs belonging to each so curiously contrived, so conspicuous and plain; that they may further illustrate the late Inventions of some; and do seem to shew, how solicitous Nature is in preserving, and propagating the meanest Species. But as in this Worm, there is a most evident discrimination of Sexes; so in Earth-worms, there is nothing of this nature to be found but they are perfect Hermaphrodites, each Worm having the Organs belonging both to Male and Female; which is common to them with Leeches, Snails, &c. I shall give the observations I have made, upon both of them; such rather as may respect their Natural History, and may be most suitable to this occasion; than their Medical accounts; which it may be hereafter, I may more enlarge upon: Nor do I think this may be unserviceable to our faculty; for such hints as do improve the Theory, will the Praxis too. I shall begin with the Joyned Worm; and shall pursue the Method I have already given, in more strictly considering those particulars, which I have laid down, to discriminate this from all other sorts of Worms. And the first is, it's being flat; hence call'd Lumbricus Latus, and by Hippocrates, ταυτα i.e. Fascia, and by some in English, the Tape-worm. This flatness of the body, sufficiently distinguishes it from the others, which are usually bred in the body; and are either short, and small, and then called Ascarides; or longer, as the Teretes; which are so called κατάξοντα, tho the former likewise, are round too. Nor is there any out of the body that I know off, that are thus flat. *Spigelius* (a) observed one *digitum minimum latum*. So *Platerus* makes that, which he observed to be as broad as his finger. So *Marcellus Donatus* (b) in a Barber at *Radua*, saw it *digitali latitudine*. Some compare it to the bigness of a Child's finger. (c) *Philibert Sarazenus* saw them *digitii medij latitudinem æquantes*. The breadth of this Worm is various; both in the several parts of the body of the same Worm; as also in one Worm, compared with any other. The longer the Worm is, the broader usually are the latter Joyns. That of (d) *Gul. Fabricius Hildanus* was *grana Sex latus*; and because this, and that other of *Spigelius*, are often referred to; I shall here give a part of the *figures* of both of them. 2. The second particular I observed was its Joyns. From these large incisures of the body, a great number, or genus of Animals, have the name of Insects. In Earth-Worms, Leeches, &c. The *Annuli*, which make up the length of the body, are very remarkable; but much different from those in our present Subject; they being more proportionate to one another; and not of so unequal a length. And in the Teretes, and *Ascarides* the surface of the body, seems more even, and smooth, and not divided after this manner. These Joyns are so set on, that the lines or extrem edges of the former, come over the later, which is to be well observed, and may direct us to that part or extrem, where we may suppose the head to be placed. These edges of the former Joyns, which shoots over the later, in some I have observed to be plain, and smooth; in others crenated, and indented; in all, by --- (a) *Spigel, de Lumbrico Latop.* 12. (b) *Mar. Donatus de Medic. Hist. mirab.* 4, c. 26. (c) *Apud Hildanum Cent.* 2, *Obs.* 71. (d) *Obs. chirurg. Cent.* 2, *Obs.* 70. drawing it through ones fingers from the Tayle to the head, you will find a great roughness; but if the other way, from the head to the tail, it seems smooth. 3. Many, who have observed this Worm, do take notice of the difference of its extremities; how much larger one is than the other; but not well considering the setting on of the joints, abundance have been misled into an error, by taking the Head for the Tail: and so have either mist of observing; or miserably mistaken in the describing the Head. Thus Spigelius (e) makes the slenderer part of the body to be the Tail; but confesses he could never observe the head, nor was he likely where he looked for it. Amatus Lusitanus (f) makes the head to be white, and Verrucosum, thence the body, he faith proceeded broad, and grew narrower towards the Tail; which does sufficiently shew his mistake; which I must needs take it to be; for in all I have hitherto observed, I constantly found that extremity where the Head is set on (if we may allow it to have any) much smaller than the other; sometimes not half a quarter so broad; in others lesser or greater often according to the length of the Worm; But in all I take notice, if they are of any considerable length, that the joints towards the head are vastly shorter, than towards the tail. For in one I have by me 24 foot long, there about five joints make an Inch; whereas the latter joints here are above an Inch long; but in some I have taken out of dogs, there were 30 or 40 sometimes above 60 Annuli, which towards the Head, did make up but the length of an Inch; whereas towards the Tail 6 or 7 joints did equal that measure and sometimes 3, so that gradually the joints seem to increase both in length, and wideness, as they approach the Tail. But withall it must be observed, that according to the Corrugation or exten- † Fig. 1. (c) De Lumbrico Lato cap. 5. p. 12. (f) Currat. Medic. Cent. 6. c. 17. 74. sion of these Joyns, their dimensions will be altered; which is most apparent in them when alive. That likewise there is a great difference of these Joyns in the various Species of this Worm; for I think there are more sorts than one. And as to the differences of them there are these I have taken notice of. 1. That in most the Joyns gradually, and very sensibly increase in length. But in a vast quantity of this Worm voided by a person here in Town, but in several pieces, 2, 3, 4, or more or fewer yards long; I observed for a great length the Joyns much the same; but suppose I saw here neither the head, nor Tail. 2. In some those orifices, which I take for mouths, were placed about the middle of the Joyns, on the Edges; in others, about the middle of the flat of the Worm, near the Joynings. 3. These juttings, or lips of the upper Joyns, over the lower in some, were plain; in others crenated; in others, the great protuberances at the side rendered the whole Worm serrated. 4. Usually the same Joyn is much of a bigness throughout; but the upper extremity something lesser than the lower. But in one I took out of a Dog, I observed that towards the Tail, the upper part of the Joyn, by which 'twas fastened to the foregoing Joyn, was very slender; in the middle broad; and towards the other extremity grew Taper again; so that it did well enough resemble the figure, which (g) Cornel Gemma has given of it; and is borrowed, and Copyed from him, by Aldrovandus, Spigelius, Sennertus, and others. Not that the whole Worm, as he has made it, was so; but only some of the last Joyns. And in another I took out of the same Dog I could not observe the same thing; as neither did I in a third, I took out of another Dog, which was about two yards long; whereas these were each but about a foot or foot and half long; And this leads me, to consider (g) Corn. Gemma lib. de occultis Nat. Characterismis. the fourth particular, I have proposed, the great length of this Worm. 4. Alexander (h) Trallianus in his Epistle to Theodorus, tells us, 'tis sometimes as long as all the Guts, ἀναπαράγει τὸ ἐντός not that it lies extended straight the length of the Guts; as those might think, who fondly imagined 'twas nothing else but a Mucous skin, or spolium of the same: But it lies convoluted in several places; so that it often vastly exceeds the whole length of the Guts themselves. Thus (i) Pliny remarks, that there are intra hominem Tanie tricentum pedum, aliquando & plurimum. Platerus observed one forty foot long. Thaddaeus (k) Dunus saw voided by a woman one piece of this Worm five yards long; and another, above 20 yards long. Yet in neither he could observe either the Head or the Tail. So that it may be thought but some part of the Worm. But what (l) Olaus Borrichius tells us is remarkable; that a Patient of his, in a years time, has voided 800 foot of this sort of Worm; but in several pieces; and that 100 foot of it, he kept by him; and that hitherto he has not met with the Head. For the Patient observed, that always in the voiding it, he perceived it break off; that he has not yet come to the end; and still goes on in voiding the same. Which I could parallel with an instance of a person here in Town, once my Patient; who has voided vast quantities of this Worm, for several years together; but in several pieces, 2, 3, 4. Six or more yards long; but all put together, would much exceed the length of that of Borrichius. (m) Tulpius faith he shewed in the Anatomy Theater, 40. yards (h) Ad finem lib. Mercurialis de Morbis Puerorum. (i) Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 21. cap. 33. (k) Thadd. Miscel. Med. c. 15. (l) Vid. Barthol. All. Med. vol. 2. Obs. 47. (m) Obs. Med. l. 2. c. 420 edit Amstel. 1652. of this Worm; which was voided by one, in two days time. So that, if we should compare this, with those Microscopical Animalcula, observed in Semine Animalium, which according to (n) Lemmenboeck's computation, if they were placed head to tail a great many Thousands would scarce make the length of an Inch; (they being so small, ut judicem (saith he) millena millia arenam grandorem magnitudine non aquatura:) we shall find here a greater disproportion in bulk, of these Animals in the lesser World, than between the Ant, and Elephant, or any almost in the greater. And it may be, is the only instance in Nature of one that has no determinate bounds in its growth at least that is known. For to be at any certainty I think is very difficult; since when it comes to any considerable length by lying in several Clusters, or Convolutions in the Intestines; the descent of the faces especially being quickened by a Purge, will be apt to break part off; which yet still will live, and grow till quite carried out of the body. Besides I question whether all those pieces which are voided by the same person, may be always reputed parts of the same Worm, or of different. Indeed (o) Spigelius spends a whole Chapter to prove plures uno non nasci, nec in homine bis nasci notatum. He quotes the Authority of (p) Actuarius, and gives his own reasons too, since nature allwayes makes fewest of those Animals, which are the largest; and those are also uniparous, not multiparous; and he thinks either the want of food, the straightness of the place, or the weakness of human Nature, not being able to bring them to perfection, and so great a length; will prevent the being of more than one. (q) Hippocrates or who so was the Author of that Book ascribed to him, asserts (n) Philosophical Transact. No. 142. p. 1041. and 1044. (o) De Lumbric. Lato. c. 10. p. 31. (p) Lib. x. Meth. c. 21. (q) Hipp. de morb. lib. 4. that 'tis bred in the Child whilst yet in the Womb, and assigns his reason for it, why onely then; and adds that it has been observed by Midwives, that upon giving Medicines to bring away the Faeces from new born Infants, they have brought away both the round, and flat Worms; which if true, what he afterwards adds, &c. si non sponte exeat, vel expellatur Medicamentis, unde cum homine consenescere; here may be literally understood, in respect of the Man, as well as Worm; Since they are observed very often, if not most frequently in grown persons, as also old men. As Galen mentions one troubled with them, who was 57 years old; which renders suspected the truth of this assertion: And Spigelius upon enquiry of the Midwives both in Germany, and Italy, could never be informed that they observed these Worms in new born Infants. But as to Spigelius his reasons, why there should be no more than one in the body at a time; I shall onely give this answer, that upon dissection of a Dog I observed two entire ones; but each not much above a foot long. So that that answer he gives to that observation of (i) Forelius, who mentions twelve voided at the same time; that they were onely parts of the same Worm; tho often it may be true, yet sometimes it may be otherwise; Especially, where we see such prodigious quantities are voided of them. However this is undeniable, and must be allowed; that this Worm is vastly long, which plainly appears even by those pieces we see of them; for besides the instances already given, (i) Simon Schultzius mentions one seven yards long, and another nine yards. (i) Clusius tells us that the Duke of Austria's Cook voided pieces of this Worm, 6, 12, and 15 yards long. Jacobus Oethaeus measured one 18 yards (i) Forelius, Obs. lib. 21. Obs. 26. (ii) Miscellan. Curiosa Germ. vol. 3. Obs. 229. (iii) Clus. in Monard. lib. 3. Simpl. Medic. long. (v) Alexander Camerarius has seen them above twenty yards long. In the Palace at Tiguri is kept the figure of one 18. foot long: and abundance of more Instances I could give were it needful. But I shall describe that piece of †one I have by me, voided by a young man about twenty years of age, upon the use of an Emulsion of the cold Seeds; which is enough for some, who are admirers of that Philosophy, hence to extol and magnify the power of Signatures. But to pass by here the Aetiology of his cure, as also the Pathology of the Symptoms he was afflicted with before he voided it; I shall only take notice, that having dragged it from himself, not without some frightful apprehensions, that Guts, and all were coming out; he plainly perceived it alive, and to move; and having put it in a wide mouthed glass; it often endeavoured by raising its body to get out; but the cold water into which it was put afterwards soon killed it. I measured it, and found it 24. foot, or 8. yards long. In it I numbed 507. Joyns. Its colour was extreme white, being turgid with Chyle; its body flat, about the thickness of half a Crown, where thickest; and the Joyns towards the Tail about \( \frac{1}{4} \) of an Inch broad; those toward the head about \( \frac{1}{4} \) as broad as those towards the Tail, and here the Joyns were not \( \frac{1}{4} \) of an Inch long, whereas those at the Tail were of a full Inch long, and something more, and from the head they seemed gradually to increase in length. The Joyns much of a wideness throughout; and the jetting edges of the former over the later usually plain and even; unless where the contraction of the body had rendered them a little crimped. The flats of both sides, just alike; and without any Spots, protuberances, or any think remarkable, which might distinguish them, or be observed, only a smooth Surface; but about the middle of the edges of each Joyn I observed a protuberating (v) Lib. obs. propriar. Orifice, which would easily enough admit a Hog's Bristle, and was open, and apparent to the naked eye. These Orifices were placed for the most part alternately, in one Joynt on the right side, in the following on the left. But sometimes I have observed them in 2, more seldom in 3 succeeding Joynts of the same side; but never in one Joynt more than once. These Orifices (till such time as I am better informed) I take at present for so many mouths, and the reasons of this my present belief I shall give in what I am to discourse on in my 6th particular. But since I have here mentioned of what length they have been observed in man, I shall also add, how long those were I have seen in Dogs. For tho they are to be met with onely in the Animal Kingdom; yet in abundance of the Subjects of this, and those too of different Species, they are very frequent; In Fishes, as in the Pike, Whitings, Bleakes, Crabs, Herrings, &c. and upon this Score sometimes they prove a great damage to the Merchants, as (*) Platerus observes, they being forced to fling them away. In Bleakes in the Summer time, if you open those that leap and tumble on the water, from the torment they feel within; you shall almost constantly meet with this Worm, which is a thing well known to our Watermen. In Oxen often they are observed likewise, not so much in Calves, but in Dogs very frequently; which (v) Platerus makes to be another sort of the Tænia, and calls it Ligula, and saith 'his longitudine proribus respondens minimè tamen latum, sed teres Lumbricorum instar, totoque ductu fibi simile; and makes it immobile; all which are mistakes, as I shall presently shew. (z) Simon Sculpius mentions a lap Dog that in a short time voided nine yards of this Worm in several pieces. I have oftentimes here seen them myself; but shall mention those onely, I found in dissection.; as I met with the (*) Plater. Observ. Lib. 3. p. 891. (v) Plater. Praxis Tom. 3.l. 24. 13. (z) Miscel. chiriof. German. vol. 4. Obs. 120. first time two. There was indeed another piece, which I take only as broken off from one of the former, because here both Extremes were pretty large, and the Joyns throughout proportionably long. But in the two others the disproportion was very remarkable; For besides observing here their heads hispid or thick beset with haire or small spikes, which I shall afterwards describe; I took notice that this extreme if extended, was very slender; and when a little contracted, the Joyns so very small, that they were scarce discernable by the naked eye; but where I could better distinguish them, between 30 or 40 made the length of an Inch; but towards the other Extreme or Tail, in one four, in the other 6, or 7 Joyns made that length; One of these Worms was scarce a foot long; the other not a foot, and half. In another Dog, I since dissected, I found another Worm, with just the same head, but about five foot long; Towards the head in this 60 Joyns scarce made an Inch, but at the Tail about three did equal that space; and the Joyns here were about a quarter of an Inch broad; and in the sides of the Joyns in this, I plainly perceived those Orifices, I at present call the mouths; and shall describe in my sixth particular. But as to the Head. 5. The head of Nile does not seem to be more perplex't, and obscure to the Antients, then that of this Worm, which has created as many Controversies among Anatomists of late, as that has with Geographers of old. And those too who have had the advantage of observing vast quantities of this Worm, after their most strict enquiries, and most diligent research thereinto; have at last been forced to confess, that they are still at a loss, and know nothing certain of it; and what they propose, they deliver rather as a conjecture at random, than any thing as an establisht truth. And many, as most of the Antients are utterly silent in it. *Spigelius --- *a Spigelius de Lato Lumbrico c. 5. p. m. ii. who has wrote a whole Book of it, and with the greatest accurateness of any before him; yet tells us, after he had delivered the opinions of those before him, *ego autem quamquam nunquam caput videre potuerim*, non leviter ratione coniicio, hinc esse parvum in acutum desinens, & rostratum, ut alij lumbrici est, and acquaints us that Gabucinus did seem to give it rostrum acutum, and to compare it to that of the Acus marinus. But as I shall shew in my last particular, 'twas Gabucinus's opinion that this Worm was nothing else than a spolium of the Intestine, which included the Cucurbitini, which gave it life and motion. But in Hippolitus Brillus, who sometime before had wrote a book, de Vermibus in Corpore humano genitis, I find nothing besides Quotations, and they too nothing remarkable to our purpose. Amatus Lusitanus makes it Verrucosum et album ex quo Corpus latum procedebat, & quo magis ad caudam accedebat, co strictius evadet. Which addition as I have observed destroyes the truth of his observation. Rondelius saith 'tis longum, parvum, oculis destitutum, and indeed what use of eyes it should have, I cannot see. So Forelius observed it in mucronem tanquam subulam defuisse. Welschius thinking all this nothing, tells us that all before, observed these Worms to be *aniparos*, and that the first that discovered, and gave them a head was Tulpius; and since that, Jo Mich. Febr. I shall therefore give their observations of it; and then deliver what I have observed myself. Nic. Tulpius a noted Physician, and Burgomaster at Amsterdam in the former Editions of his Medical Observations makes this Worm to be *Biceps*; and to have two heads, placed like the Horns of a Snail; not that he ob- --- b Amat. Lusitan. Cent. 6. curat. 74. c Rondelius lib. de digno se morb. c. 17. d Forelius Observ. lib. 26. c. 36. e Welschius de vena Medinensi cap. 4. p. 130-131. f Anno 1651, 1652. &c. served it so himself, but had the relation of it, and figure, from Henricus à Rügen a Kinsman of Augerius Clusius, who voided it. But asserebat ipsus satis sancte inhaesisse illud ipsum Caput, quod exprimit figuram; and he saith, erat autem hoc Caput, ut breve, sic utique planum ac latum & ejusdem cum reliquo Corpore coloris: one of the heads was broken off by the violent straining in the voiding. Altero interim illae- so, sed circa apicem summè villosò; attamen sine ullo oris hiatu, quo dum caret, quid verisimilius, quam ipsum ali solo subito. So this I shall add, what Job. Rhodius has delivered; which favours this opinion of a double head; where he tells us, that Adrianus Spigelius upon dissection of a Lap-Dog which dyed of an Epilepsy in the year 1622, that he found the Intestines full of this sort of Worms, sed imprimis Latus umbricus ijs adhaësit, capite bifido, qui veram candidi coloris fasciam referebat, but notwithstanding these Authorities, I shall still suspend my belief of these double heads till better Information. And indeed Tulpia himself seems to me to suspect the truth of the Observation, having in the last Edition of his Book wholly left it out; without taking any notice of it, and given another very different; and in the same figure, he has erased the former heads, and clapt on a new one, to the old body; quite different from what was before; and that we might not mistrust this, he tells us that this head is non fictum, aut pictum, sed genuinum, & prout id ipsum dum Corpori etiamnum inhaeret, a Francisco Vicquio, Arnoldo Tholingio, alisque quam plurimis Medicis coram conspectum, idque non semel atque iterum, sed tertium nam toties infectum hoc excrevit Oxor Gul. Smithij. His description of it is very short. Erat autem caput hoc non minus acutum, quam planum, & ore admodum extit, plane eadem forma, qua ejus Iconem, dum adhuc reperet, ari incidit Solomon Saverius artis ejus abunde peritus. But by all I can see in his figures, I can't but think, he is at the wrong g. Job. Rhodij Obs. Med. Cent. i. Obs. 550 ii Anno 1672. end; end; for by considering the prominence of the joints, the placing of its spots, and difference of its ends; I should sooner by half look for it at the smallest extremity which he makes the Tail, than the other where he has now placed it. Jo. Michael Fehr a German Curioso in his Treatise de Hierà píerà seu de Absynthio in the year 1644. he observ- ed in a piece voided by a Patient about 6 yards long, a head much different from that of Tulpius; he describeth this Worm cum collo sensim angustiore, & rotundiore in minu- tissimum capitulum atrum, & verrucosum, trium Papaveris seminum aptè conjunctorum formam exprimens, desinentem: cujus iconem ob raritatem hic addidimus. Indeed I must confess that account I had from the women who first ob- served it, and the Patient who voided that Worm I mention- ed to have by me eight yards long; and was given me by my worthy Friend Mr. Houghton an Apothecary, seemed agreeable to this, tho when I first saw it I could take no- tice of no such thing; and therefore am apt to think 'twas only some Thrums of the inward coat of the Intestine, which might stick to the hooks here, which might make this figure. For in the heads of all I have had yet an op- portunity of seeing; I could never observe any such thing. I shall therefore now deliver my observations of the heads of this Worm as I have seen them, in three several ones I have taken out of the bodies of Dogs upon dissection; and it being so, makes me to be something more at a Cer- tainty; where I know I have them whole. And although three, did exactly agree; yet there being some circum- stances which attended the one, tho not the others; yet being very material to our purpose, I shall recount them here. And it was in a Dog I opened at our private meetings, at the Anatomical Theater of the College of Physicians, where I observed this Worm alive in the Ilion; not lying straight, i Jo. Mich. Fehr de Hierà píerà seu de Ab.Synthio p. 125. but in many places winding, and doubling! Having taken notice how the Joyns were, I traced it up, by carefully opening the Intestine, to the smallest Extream; where I expected the head to be; and which did ly towards the Duodenum; whereas the broader end was downward towards the Rectum; and this broad end was free, and did nothing adhere; whereas that smaller extream did so firmly stick, and had fasten'd it self to the inward coat of the Intestine, that it was not without some trouble, by gently raising it with my Nail, that I freed it from its adhesion. Having lifted it up, I carefully viewed it; and did observe neither that Biceps in Tulpius's first figure, nor the head like a Tricoccus as in Mich Febr, but a very slender body; which being alive, it would sometimes shoot out a considerable length; at others retract it in again, and so very much alter its figure, by becoming broader. But whilst I was doing this, by its wrigling its body, it happening to fall off my finger; it presently took hold again, and gave me as much trouble to free it a second time from its adhesion, as at the first. Other observations I then made of its motion, and of the two single Joyns which were broken off, which I shall mention in my last particular: as also of those Orifices at the sides, which I shall discourse of in my next; and for the present I put it into Spirit of Wine, that I might more carefully view it with a Microscope at home. And in doing this, making use of some extraordinary good ones, it very plainly appeared as is represented in my 11th Figure, thick beset with two orders of Spikes, or Hooks, whereof the larger did arise from the Center or Middle, spreading themselves over the edges of the circumference; the other which were lesser issuing out about the middle from the Center and were shorter, as is seen in this Figure, and are represented sideways in the twelfth. I could not upon my strictest Enquiry and with extraordinary Glasses too, inform myself of any Orifice here, which we may suppose to be the mouth; onely a little indenting there was, in the Center, occasion'd by the issuing out of the Spikes thence. This end was not perfectly flat, but a little globous, and I could perceive by the swelling a little below on the neck, and wrinkling of the Skin, as in the Figure; how it did shoot out, and contract its neck, as I observed it when alive: For some little space here, I could not observe with the glasses any Joints at all; but after, very thick set, and small, and gradually increasing in length, as they descended towards the Tail. The heads of the other two Worms exactly appeared the same in the Microscope, as this described. And afterwards by carefully viewing them by my naked eye, I could observe these hairs or Spikes. What therefore Tulpius faith in his first Observation of this Worm, of the head that was entire, and not broken (and I am pretty confident was the onely one it had) that it was circa apicem summe villosum, attamen sine ullo oris hiato, is true enough. And that passage in Spigelius, who having given the different opinions of others concerning the head of this Worm, adds, a multiverd creditur caput esse exiguum cum paucis quibusdam pedibus more aranearum, must be understood of the Spikes, we have described, and will hold good; tho it seems not much regarded by him. It was objected by some ingenious persons, who had been acquainted with what I observed concerning this head, whether these spikes, or hairs might not be like the small feet of the Tick or Ricinus for it's fastening itself the better to help it's suction. And indeed were it blood it lived upon, the case were plain; but since 'tis Chyle what service they could do it in this, I do not see; for when they fasten, the head is deep immersed in the inward Coat of the Intestine; and so may be thought for that time, to get but a very inconsiderable soop, if any; and nothing in proportion to what is requisite for so vast a long body; and what it is often observed to be turgid with. Upon the whole, what seems most agreeable to me, and to be the true use of this part part we call the head is this; that by the means of these hooks, and Spikes it might fasten itself, and so prevent its too easy ejection out of the body. For it being so very long, and large too, and its body in many places winding, and convoluted, the descent of the faces upon all occasions would be apt to carry it out with them; had it not this hold, which is so fast, that rather than loosen itself, parts of the body are sooner broken off, which we frequently see in the stool. When it penetrates the coat of the Intestine it contracts its hooks in, and draws up its head to a point; then expands them, and takes firm hold of the Membrane, by darting its several poniards into it; which excites those intolerable pains, which those that are troubled with them, so much complain off; that I have known it to that extremity, that some have been scarce dissuaded from offering violence to themselves, to free themselves, as they thought, from a great misery, and hence it is that this Worm is of so difficult a cure; that tho by Medicines, and Purges, vast quantities at times may be brought away; yet some can hardly get a perfect cure all their lifetime; as I know of one who for above twenty years has been afflicted with it; that has had the advice of several able, and eminent Physicians. And indeed all, who have wrote of this Worm, do make the same Prognostick of it; that the Story of Hippys Reginus in *Elian is not insignificant, where he tells us; that a Woman being troubled with this Worm, and the most skilful Physicians despairing of helping her; she went at last for a cure to the Temple of Aesculapius at Epidaurus; but the God being absent, his servants there advised her to sit in the place, where he used to do his Cures; and then cutting off her head, one of them thrusting his hand into her belly, pulled out a huge Worm, and then endeavoured to place her head on again, but could not; but the God by this time being returned, he severely check't them, for k. *Elian. Hist. Animal. l. 9. c. 73. tashly attempting what Art nor Human power was able to do: and having set it on himself, he dismiss the woman perfectly cured: But since in this head we find no mouth; we must seek it somewhere else, and I come now to discourse of t, which is my sixth Particular. I am very sensible with how great difficulty my present thoughts concerning this will be received; how obvious to all 'twill be to raise objections; and how liable I am to the censure of many of a long Magot, in proposing so many mouths. But before they pass too severe a sentence on me; I would let them know, how little obstinate I am in any Hypothesis of Philosophy; how mistrustful of my own eyes where I have reason to think, that others are quicker sighted. And a notion tho never so fondly received at first, yet is as easily repudiated by me, upon better information. What I here offer if true, others will find it likewise; if not, I think myself as little obliged as any of them, to believe it. But why at present I think those Orifices in every Joyn to be so many mouths. I shall now give my Reasons. I have already observed them to be of two sorts; that in several Worms both from human bodies, as also in those of Brute Animals; they are placed much about the middle of the Joyns on the edges; most frequently alternately, in one joyn on the right hand, in the other on the left, sometimes in two, seldom in more on the same side; they are protuberant something like a * Papilla and in the middle a foramen easily enough to be perceived by the naked eye, and will readily admit a Hogs bristle. In the other form, these protuberances are placed about the middle of the flat of the Worm, towards the upper part of the Joyn, and seem to be represented by Spigelius, Sennertius, and Tulpius in their figures of this Worm; tho with some mistakes; and is that, which Authors mean by their maculae nigricantes in their descriptions of it. 1 Olaus Borrichius 1 Bartholin. Acta Med. vol. 2. Obs. 47. observed here sometimes three, sometimes more, non nunquam eadem sexangula. At present I shall chiefly insist upon the former sort, which has occurred most commonly to me: And a short black line here, placed transverse to the body, I think was the first that gave me notice of them; Tho since in others, I have not so constantly seen it; but only a protuberant Orifice about the middle of the edges of the Joints. These protuberances by m. Franciscus Sanchez in the || figure of that part of this Worm, 16 foot long, which he gives us, are plainly represented; but he does not describe them or take any notice of the Ostia, or Foramina in them. But that they are so many mouths, I shall argue, First, from the great quantity of Chyle they are often turgid with. Secondly, from the great Appetite, but more often Thirst, but almost always that Emaciation which they occasion. Thirdly, that there is no other mouth besides observed. Fourthly, that no uses can so fitly be assigned to these Orifices as their being mouths. As to the first, none, who have observed them, but must confess that they are often very turgid; as that I have by me eight yards long, at first did very plainly appear; and having put it into Spirit of Wine, I found after a little while it had muddied it, by spewing out a large quantity of a Chylous juice, which made a deep sediment at the bottom; as likewise it did a second time, having changed the old, and put it in fresh Spirits. Whence all this should issue, I cannot see, but by these Orifices at the sides; which first I supposed had received, and licked it in. And being in so large a quantity how otherwise could it be well received into the body; but by these many mouths; which being always open, and lying of all sides too, do greedily exhaust, and devour the best part of the Chyle, and nutritious m. Fr. Sanchez de morbis internis. l. 3. c. 14. p. 131. aliment. That hence may be well accounted for, that Appetitus Caninus, that great Thirst, that Atrophy I mention in my second particula:, and are often observed in those, that are afflicted with this Worm. Indeed n Spigelius thinks this Boulimy, and Atrophy are occasioned not so much by the Worms devouring the Chyle, as 1. Corrupting it, 2. Hindering it's distribution by occluding the Meseraick veins. 3. By it's creating a false sense by the motion in the Guts. All which reasons do nothing move me. And o Galen is express that it is by devouring the Nourishment, and so is p Aetius, and twenty more, that I could name. But had they but one mouth how could they do this? But having as many, it may be as the Lacteals themselves; 'tis no wonder that they rob them, and by their nimble supping it up, prevent it's passing into them. That thence we must necessarily expect an extenuation of our own bodies in proportion to the increase of theirs; since the nourishment we receive is but what they leave us; and that too none of the best; and corrupted likewise with their recrements. 3. I argue that these Orifices are so many mouths; for if we do not admit them to be such, I know not where in the whole body to find them besides. For in that part we call the head, even our Microscopes, as I have observed, cannot discover any; and those too, that guessed it to be there; they all acknowledged it to be very small, and it being so, and but single too; I cannot see, how it can take in so great a quantity of Chyle, which would be necessary for maintaining so great a body of so great a length: For it can only lick up no more than what just comes in it's way; that the open mouths of the numerous Lacteals, would be too hard for it; and quickly starve it. Besides since it nuzzles its head so deep in the Coats of the Intestines. n De Lumbrico lato c. 5. p. 50. o Gal. lib. de Theriaca ad Pisones. p Aet. lib. 9. c. 40. at that time at least it may be thought incapable of getting scarce any thing at all: But the use I have assigned that part I am apt to think will satisfy others, as well as at present it does myself. Therefore 4. Why I think those Orifices mouths is, because I cannot think what they are besides. For to take them for so many Vents of their excrement, would be more unreasonable; since 'tis pure Chyle, which they receive; which will not afford much, at least so gross an excrement, as to need so many, and large orifices for the voiding it. And why so many Anus's, when but one mouth? Tis easier to imagine them Bronchia or Lungs; which in Insects are observed in all the Annuli, or Joyns of the body; but withal I must observe, with how much difference from our subject. For in them, you shall constantly see these Orifices of both sides in each Annulus; but in our Worm never but of one side: In those, they are not near so open, and large, as in this Worm, even so much, that I cannot see, how it can be avoided, but that the Chyle must slip into them; and so spoil them for being Lungs. And indeed what use can we imagine such here, which must almost constantly be occluded, either by filth or Chyle. If I misremember not, by pressing them gently with my fingers when fresh, and turgid, I observed Chyle to issue out of them. q Philip Salmuthus seems to hint so much where he tells us laetii quid emississe observavit, and r Olaus Borrichius observed them semper liquore crassissimo plena, so that that chylous Sediment in the Spirit of Wine I had immersed them into, came hence, I think I have little reason to doubt. Upon the whole, what I have here offered, I think is sufficient to render my conjecture probable. And yet I have more reason to add why these Orifices should be --- q Salmuth. Cent. 1. Obs. 95. r Apud Bartholin. Acta Med. vol. 2. Obs. 47. mouths; because the Joyns when broken off, yet still do live; and that too, as may be thought for some considerable time; which they could not, unless they had mouths in each; which might receive the aliment for the support of it. Which brings me to the last particular, I proposed for the discriminating this Worm, from all others out of the body, and shall now discourse of. But since it has been so stiffly maintained by Authors of great note both modern as well as the Antients; that the Worm itself scarce lives; but is onely a Spolium of the Intestine, or at least it is not one but many Worms, included in that Membrane; I shall consider how unlikely all such Opinions are, and wide of the truth; and then deliver my own Observations of it. Hippocrates, or who so was the Author of that Book, among his Works, tells us that this Worm is ἐν τῷ ἀποστραγγίῳ τῆς ξυλίνης quasi album ramentum Intestinorum. And Aetius, and Paulus Aegineta are express that 'tis onely the inward Coat of the Intestine turned, and changed into the figure of an Animal; and many more are of the same Opinion not worth mentioning; it seeming so absurd, as Mercurialis observes. He rather thinks it to be the Mucus, which lines the insides of the Intestines, and defends them from any asperities of the feces. And abundance there are of this opinion. But Franciscus Valleriola seems the most of any, to play the Philosopher, and labours to shew, how this Pituita of the Guts, may be formed into a Membrane, and then endeavours to account for (sed Dis invitis) how these Incisures, or jointings of the body, might happen likewise. Felix Platerus is very positive, that they are no Animals at all; that they have no motion, Sed ex una tantum crassà, alba, mucosa membra- --- 1 Hipp. l. 4. de morbis. 2 Mercurial. de morb. pueror. lib. 3. c. 7. 3 Valleriol. obs. Med. l. 1. obs. 9. 4 Plater. obs. lib. 3. p. 391. and that they are Ligulae, fasciæve membranaceæ ex Chylogene. But those many Physicians, who have observed it to move, and therefore to be an Animal, and alive; do easily confute him, as Gabucinus mentions one voided by a Child two years, and four months old; that being put into water lived almost a day. And a remarkable instance I had of it, in that I met with upon dissection of a Dog in the Theater of our Colledge; where several of the Members were present. I shall therefore mention what particularly I observed of it; and the mannerhow it did perform it; which was very pleasing; and in different forms. For tho all was performed by contracting, and shortning the Joynts; yet sometimes it rendered the body that was flat, round, and a Cylinder; other times it made a deep hollow or concave, on one side, and a Convex on the other; but most times there was a bellying out at the edges, about the middle of the Joynts; and tho that part towards the head was very slender; yet upon Contraction it would become as broad as the last Joynts. This contraction of the Joynts I sometimes observed, at several places at the same time, at some distance from one another; which must needs much advantage it's progressive motion: since being of so great a length, otherwise it could make but small advances; which is perhaps requisite, that it might recover it self, when the descent of the Facies do drive it downwards. And for the advantage too of it's motion; at every Joynt there is a prominence of the former, over the later; which like so many Scales on the belly of other Reptiles do perform the use of Feet. But I find that those who admit this Worm to be alive, have several of them very different thoughts of it; and many there are, who do assert, that 'tis not one, but --- y Gabuc. Comment. de Lumbricis. c. 13. many Worms, linked together. Thus *Antonius Benivens* gives an History of a Woman, who upon drinking the Bath-waters of Avignon, voided several *Vermes Cucurbitinos*, qui ita inter se se (dum sc. alter alteri mordicus inhaeret) jungebantur, ut cum sua ipsi serie quatuor Cubitorum longitudinem excederent, unum tantum Corpus, unum duntaxat vermem puta es. So *Aldrovandus* judges it: ex multibus, si longus fuerit, vermbibus, Semini Cucurbitae similibus, sibique invicem arête coadunatis, constitui. *Arnoldus* *Villanovanus* mentions that it was the opinion of some, quod isti Cucurbitini generantur in ventre cujusdam maximi Lumbrici, qui aliquando emititur longior uno, vel duobus brachiis. And *Morardus* tells us how that in a large Worm were observed abundance of these Cucurbitini. And this *Hieron. Gabinus* delivers as his opinion, where he tells us, ego verò nil aliud latum Lumbricum esse existimo, quam, ut inquit Hip. pocr. abrasionem veluti Intestinorum albam tota complectentem intestina, intra quam Cucurbitae semini similes animantes procreantur, & quidem vitam senilem viventes. And a little after he adds, si quis vero totam illam abrasionem animatum viderit, sciat non abrasionem illam, id est latum vocatum Lumbricum, sed Cucumeris similes Animantes intra ipsum vivere; He all along denies the Lumbricus Latus i.e. that spolium of the Intestines, as he calls it, to be an Animal; but that it receives all it's sense, and motion from those Cucurbitini included in it. This he very plainly, as he tells us, discovered in a part of this Worm, shewed him by a person, that voided it. His Words because the Book is not very common, I shall mention. Hac autem portio se se commovebat, quo factum est, ut avidius motus ipsius causam vestigarem; diligentissime tandem perquirens per ejus totam cavitatem Cucu- --- (2) Beniv. Exempl. Med. observ. 87. p.m. 277. (3) Vlyss. Aldrovand. de Insectis lib. 6. p.m. 651. (4) Arnold. Villanov. Brev. lib. 2 cap. 21. p.m. 1229 (5) Galuc. de Lumbr. alium occupantib. Comment. c. 3. p.m. 34. meris similium Animalium seriem se moventiam: ipsa motum praetere confexi: quae ex ea veluti ex quodam lectulo prodibant, interdum unum, duo simul interdum complicata, plerumq; quattuor plurave: atq; eam abrasionis portionem, quae vacua ab hujusmodi Cucurbitinis segmentis animatis erat; nullo pacto moveri, imo subfdere. Which last particular if it was so, is something remarkable to his purpose; but I very much suspect it; because in that I met with in a Dog in the Colledge Theater, whilst alive, and in my hand, a joynnt or two fell off; but I could no waies observe any Membrane hanging to the foregoing joynnt, out of which it might slip, but it broke off entire. And altho there were two Single Joynnts, which I found in the Intestin, upon the first opening it, yet there was nothing I could see affixt to the last, which might include them. And indeed the setting on of the Joynnts here, is such, that seems to me sufficiently to shew, That this Worm cannot be a continued membrane, articulated only by the several Cucurbitini included in it; since there is so large a protuberance of the lower Extreme of the foregoing joynnt, over the upper part of the following; which I plainly perceived in this Worm. If only a Membrane, why constantly, and thus regularly a difference of both extremes, as to their length and breadth? How happen the hooks at the head? How are those orifices formed at the Edges, or on the Flat of the Worm? And if it was so, as Gabucinus imagined, I cannot think but I must have perceived something of it, in those several peices of this Worm, which I have observed: and especially in that eight Yards long, where I opened several joynnts, and could find no such thing. That Mucous matter therefore, which is observed to be voided, by those, troubled with them; which he tell us the women there, take for the beds of this Worm, may be better accounted for; it being likely in a great measure to be but the Mucus of the Intestines themselves, or a slimy Spolium cast off from these Worms. Thus Leeches I have observed being put into water, do cast out a slime, which co- vers their body's, which afterwards they slip off, and is found in the bottom of the Glass in the form of a mucous Coat. So Earth-Worms do void a large quantity of a mucous liquor, at several parts of their body; so Snails, &c. of which more in my Anatomy of those Animals. Upon the whole, I see nothing why we may not justly ascribe that life, we find here, to the Lambrieus Latus itself, and not to any Animals, we may fancy it pregnant with. And what I do give to the Whole, I must attribute likewise to the several parts of it, even when separated from the rest of the body; and can't but think that they do live likewise. Not that I think those Cucurbitini, are to be reckoned as the partus of the Latus; which that passage; in Aristotle seems to intimate, where he tells us that it does ἀποτίθεν διον σκίας σωρέων, aliquid simile seminum Cucurbitae parit. For Hippocrates denies this of the Latus, tho he does allow it to the Teretes; where he faith ἐν τῷ σπόρῳ γίνεται τιττοῦν, ἢ ἐν τῇ μαλακῇ ἢ ἐν τῇ. Neither likewise are they to be thought a fourth Species of Worms; as many would have it. But they are onely the Joyns or pieces broken off from the Latus, and when they are voided in the Stools, are a sure sign of a Joyned Worm. And the cure must accordingly be adapted. But that all these single Joyns whilst in the body do live, besides those considerations I have already delivered to prove that in every joyn there is a mouth for receiving the food; and no doubt answerable Organs for the digestion, and distribution of it; so I am the farther induced to believe it; because it has been often observed by myself, and others; that both single Joyns, and oftener larger pieces have been voided alive; and where vast quantities of this Worm too have been voided at the same time; in abundance of pieces. I have observed them d Arift. hist. Anim. lib. 5. c. 19. e Hipp. lib. 4. de morbis. almost equally turgid, and alike filled with Chyle in proportion to the magnitude of the parts. Now I cannot think that in voiding it can always be broken into so many pieces; and if it be done sometime before, and they lye dead in the body; they must be emacerated, and different from what they appear. But that observation, I have already often mentioned of that Worm, I met with in the Dog, I dissected in the Colledge Theater; does furnish me with something apposite to our purpose. For here about the middle of the Worm, as it lay in the Intestine about a foot and a half from the Tayle, or lower Extream, I observed two single Joynts, about \(\frac{1}{2}\) of an Inch long; alive, and which continued their motion briskly for \(\frac{1}{4}\) of an hour, or more in warm water. That these were broken off from the Tayle I nothing question; being in all respects so like them. And that it must be done sometime before, I am apt to think, because they were so remote from it. For they could not otherwise easily, being but single Joynts, make so great an advance, being upon all occasions liable rather to be driven down, not being able as I could observe any ways to fasten themselvs, and so resist the force of the descending Pieces. Which is the reason when broken off, they are so frequently voided. Upon the whole I have been sometimes apt to think, what Analogy there may be between this Joynted Worm, and knotted Plants; of which each Joynt can so easily propagate its self. And whether it may not be thought an Animal Plant-Animal or Zoophyton bred in Animal bodies, since so large, and frequent detruncations of the body, does not destroy the life of the whole. Which I think can scarce be instanced in any Animal besides. But my design here, is not the raising of any Hypothesis, but the enquiring into the truth of those of others. It being much easier to spy others faults, then to avoid them our selvs. In what I have said I have done the former; but but can no ways secure my self as to the latter. But in the whole, if I have not hit the mark; I have fairly aimed for it, and it may be some help, and direction to others in prosecution of this subject. And what I have laid down I think I have made out, how different this sort of Worm, bred in Animal body's, is from all others hitherto observed out of it; from whence or any Seminal matter of it, it may be supposed to be propogated. And how strange soever what I have here related of the head; of the many mouths; of the great length; and other particulars of this Worm may seem to others who will be presently apt to censure it, as Romance, and Fable; I shall onely add that Saying of Pliny, Mibi contuenti se persuasit Rerum Natura, nihil incredibile existimare de ea. The Anatomy of the Lumbricus Teres or Round Worm will be given in a following Transaction by the same learned Person. Plin. lib. ii. c. 3. THE EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES. FIGURE I. Represents that Worm, or rather part of a Worm, voided by a young man in London; which was eight yards long, which I still keep by me. The lesser extreme, is that part towards the Head; the broader, the Tail. The Protuberances about the middle of the edges of the Joyns, are the Orifices I take for Mouths. FIGURE II. Represents that Worm I took out of a Dog I dissected in the Colledge Theater, which was about 5 foot long; and was alive. The small End shews the head; as it appeared then to the naked Eye; and is represented magnified by the Microscope in the 11, and 12 Figures. The Protuberances at the sides, are the Mouths. The broad End, the Tayle, as in the first Figure. Figure 3, 4, 5, represents the figures of the Head of this Worm, which are given us by Nich. Tulpius; and Jo. Mich. Febr. FIG. FIGURE III. Represents the two Heads, which Tulpius in the former Edition of his Observations, gave to this Worm; where he makes it a Biceps. FIGURE IV. Is the Picture of the Head of this Worm which Tulpius gives us in the latter Edition of his Book of Observations. FIGURE V. Shews the Head of this Worm, as tis delineated by Jo. Mich. Fehr. which appears like a Tricoccus. FIGURE VI. This Figure I met with in Franc. Sanchez which tho rude and plain, yet very well represents those Orifices which I take for the several Mouths of this Worm. The Figures 7 and 8 are those of Adrian Spigelius, and Gul. Fabricius Hildanus; where the Mouths seem to be placed on the flat, not in the Edges of the Worm, I have observed them so in some, but those by me, being dry and so not fit for an accurate draught, for the present I have made use of these. FIGURE VII. A piece of this Worm as delineated by Spigelius. FIGURE VIII. A part of the same Worm as tis Pictured by Fabricius Hildanus. FIGURE IX. Is the Figure of this Worm in Cornel. Gemma. The following Figures represent parts of this Worm, as viewed by the Microscope. FIGURE X. Represents the Protuberance or Papilla about the middle of the Edges; and in it the Orifice, which I take for the Mouth of this Worm. FIGURE XI. Is the Head of this Worm as it appeared in the Microscope, in three several ones I took out of the body, upon dissection, wherein is observable, a double order of Spikes or Hooks; the longer arising from the Center; the other more towards the edges, which at pleasure it can contract in, or protrude, and with them, part of the Neck too, as does appear by swelling out a little below, as it is very curiously delineated, as likewise the other figures, by my most ingenious Friend and accomplish't Gent. Rich. Waller Equire. FIGURE XII. Is a side prospect of the Head and the Hooks in it, of the same Worm. OBSER.