CHEW CHONG'S EXPLANATION OF INFLUENZA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 305, 24 December 1891, Page 5

CHEW CHONG'S EXPLANATION OF INFLUENZA.

(To the Editor.)

SiX, — Twice within the last fortnight prominence has been given in your columns to an explanation of the nature of influenza by Mr Chew Chong, of the Eltham Dairy Factory. It will therefore possibly be of interest to your readers to give another view of the matter. Mr Chew Chong says that the cause oi influenza is a parasite like a thread ■of cotton, which runs through the body and under the skin, and states that he has recently found this parasite in two persons. His description answers closely to a wellknown parasite called the Guinea-worm (Filaria medinensis). This parasite is a slender white worm, usually two or three feet long and of the thickness of a knittingneedle (l-2Oth of an inch). It burrows underneath the skin in various parts of the body. It is endemic in many tropical countries, especially in the Old World, but at times its attacks assume the proportion of an epidemic which may aflect half the population of a locality. It has been shown that the worm naturally breaks through tho surface of the skin in order to discharge the microscopic embryo-worms with which its body is crammed. The embryos then pass into the bodies of water-fleas, obtaining access to human beings when water containing such water-fleas is drunk. If there be anything in Mr Chew Chong's statements, they certainly point to presence in New Zealand of thegu'inea-worm or some closelyallied parasite. We have already introduced only too many parasites—both of human beings and stock, and the Guineaworm would be a most undesirable addition. Fortunately, the Guinea-worm appears to require a tropical climate in order j to propagate itself, and though it has repeatedly been found in Europe, it has ap- | parently always been brought from tropi- j cal countries, and has not established it- j s-elf there. Still we must remember that our climate is sub-tropical, and it may be well for U3 to be on our guard.—l am, etc.,

A. P. W. Thomas. University College, Auckland, 22nd December, 1891.