Guinea worm
A parasitic nematoid worm (Filaria medinensis) frequent in many parts of Guinea, whence the name; it is long and thread-like, of a white colour, inhabiting the human skin, esp. of the lower extremities, where its presence causes painful suppuration. Also, the disease occasioned by its presence.
| 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. ii. 89 Guinea Worms are very frequent in some Places of the West Indies. 1799 W. G. Browne Trav. Africa & Syria xxi. 326 The disease called the Guinea Worm is known..by the same name [Fertît]. 1833 Baird in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club I. No. 1. 24 The Guinea-worm, which is a species of Filaria. 1872 W. Aitken Sci. Med. (ed. 6) I. 138 The Guinea worm is essentially a tropical parasite. |
| attrib. 1898 P. Manson Trop. Diseases xxxiii. 517 Lately..a French naval surgeon, has introduced a system of managing guinea-worm cases which bids fair to shorten treatment. |