IRRITATION OF YOUR ELEPHANT

There used to be a disease called “elephantitis” that caused swelling and deformity.  It is caused when parasitic worms (e.g. Wuchereria bancrofti) enter the lymphatic system which drain fluid from the body back into the circulatory system.  The worms block the lymph system causing swelling.  Google this term up if you want to be appalled by examples.   I say the disease “used” to exist, not because it has been eliminated, but because the name has changed.  You no doubt know that scientific words rely upon Latin and/or Greek to communicate ideas.  “Elephant” clearly refers to the animal.  “Itis” refers to irritation.  So, the name “elephantitis” literally means you have irritated your elephant.  To clean up the vernacular, the name has changed to “elephantiasis” which means a diseased condition resulting in elephant-like swelling.  This doesn’t occur in the Ozarks.  It is a tropical worm-caused disease.