The distemper of black cattle. A disease among black cattle, caused by a worm lodged between the skin and the flesh. The Arabians call it aegritudo bovina. but it is little known in Europe; is not mentioned by the ancient Greeks, and differs essentially from the disorder produced by the dracunculi.

Avenzoar gives the following account of the bovina affectio. 'sometimes a worm breeds between the skin and the flesh; and if this worm is not soon killed, the consequences may be pernicious. As soon as it is perceived, burn the adjacent part with a hot iron, so that heat may penetrate to the worm, in a degree sufficient to kill it. Then dress, as is usual after burns, and purge with aloes.'

Avenzoar in this passage speaks of this disorder as in human subjects. But Albucasis, who hath two chapters, one on the dracunculi, another on the bovina affectio, says, 'this worm, which is generated between the skin and flesh of black cattle, takes its course over the whole body, and is plainly perceivable in its motion from one part to another, until it breaks the skin; and wherever it makes a breach, there it finds egress;' evidently confounding it with the gordius. Alzaravius says, 'that in human subjects this worm passes betwixt the skin and the flesh, as Albucasis hath represented it in brutes; and that it is generated in the same matter as lice.'

The real bovina affectio is described in a dissertation, De Bourn Oestro, by Wallsinerius. This Oestrum, or vexatious fly, pitches on the back of black cattle, and, with a kind of sting growing to its hinder part, perforates them, and into each perforation introduces an egg, which some time after grows to a worm, and this to a fly, which in due season is like its parent. When this fly pierces the skin, it causes severe pain in the oxen. The worm, however, which is deposited, grows without any remarkable injury to the health of the animal; it never moves from its place, but in the following spring it occasions a tumour, out of which it finds its way when summer approaches, and becomes a fly. See Le Clerc Hist. Lumbric, Linnaean Transactions, vol. iii. p. 289.

Under this article may be placed the chicos, or chi-cres. They are small worms, which, in the warmer parts of America, frequently breed in the muscular parts, and particularly in the feet. The Indians pick them out, and then apply to the sore, by rubbing, the ashes of wood.

Hoffman speaks of a kind of worms to which the children in Misnia are subject. He says that these children are frequently seized with a tabes, which reduces them to mere skeletons. The cause is a sort of worms, like black hairs, lodged under the skin. These animals are usually called comedones, or gluttons, because they devour the nutritive juices in their distribution. When the skin is rubbed with honey in any warm place, they come out, but cold keeps them concealed within. The disease is apparently eruptions, from dirt, neglect, and low living. See Crinones.

Sennertus speaks of a sort of worms called seurenes, sirenes, or crinones. He tells us, that a species of pustules among the Germans, which rise on the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet, are called seuren, and contain little worms called sirones and chirones: that these worms are discovered by the itching of these parts.