ELEPHANTIASIS, properly speaking, a peculiar and rare disease, sporadic or endemic in warm climates, and characterized by a chronic thickening of the skin and the underlying tissues, usually limited to a definite area, and subsequent to an impairment of the lymphatic circulation. The disease is of great antiquity and exhibits a great variety of forms, by reason of which it has received a large number of names, medical as well as popular. The term is now applied by the best dermatologists to one disease, and not to several as heretofore. Elephantiasis ex ists in an endemic form in Africa, India, the Indian Archipelago, the West Indies and South America. The extra-continental possessions of the United States bring this disease in their train. The endemic form of the disease com mences rapidly. There is pain, heat, swelling and temperature. The lymphatics and blood vessels soon become involved and the part affected seems to be attacked by erysipelas. In
a few days the acute symptoms may subside. A recurrence of the attack leaves the arm, or or scalp, or face, or genitals somewhat thicker, and repeated attacks may result in enormous deformities of the affected parts. In the most characteristic cases of the tropical countries the disease seems to he due to a blood parasite, the Filaria sanguinis hominis. This worm gets into the blood, at times through the agencies of mosquito bites, and blocks up the lymphatic channels. In other cases the disease is regarded as a form of chronic erysipelas. In a few in stances it is congenital. The treatment will depend largely on the type of the disease. Rest in bed, elevation of the limb, quinine for the Filaria and prompt medical attendance are the essentials. See FILARIASIS ;