Observations on a Worm in the human Body

Case XXIV: Observations on a Worm in the Human Body, which turned to a Fly. By Dr. Wahlborn, provides an interesting example of both the everyday medical status of patients in the 18^th century and the larger understanding of medicine at the time. As can be seen, the case begins with the statement that “almost every Man is either afflicted with Worms or has been so in his Youth,” which is interesting in terms of general health of the population at the time. This acceptance of worms indicates that clean water was clearly not widely available to the population this doctor treated and that most patients must have been chronically afflicted by the many negative health impacts of gastrointestinal parasites. The common remedy of Anthelmintica is also outlined, showing the still- primitive status of western medicine. What is also interesting is the belief that the worms became a fly within the human body, which today would seem somewhat fantastical, but at the time was accepted as a strong and interesting medical diagnosis. This gives us further understanding of the level of medicine that was being practiced when this book was published.