GENUS ASTHMA TOS. 467 



said less permanent a character than is met with among the Peritricha, that its refer- 

 ence to the present intermediate group, sharing the characters of both the Ciliate and 

 Flagellate infusorial orders, seems desirable. Both the central flagellum and 

 surrounding fascicle of cilia would seem to manifest in their capacity of retraction 

 and temporary obliteration a certain correspondence with the similarly retractile 

 flagellum and associated collar of the order of the Discostomata, which has been 

 already briefly referred to, see p. 329, in connection with that group. 



Asthmatos ciliaris, Salisbury. PL. XXIV. FIGS. 62-64. 



Body usually ovate or subspherical, but plastic and changeable in form ; 

 anterior fascicle of cilia brush-like, long and flexible, the length of the 

 constituent cilia, when fully extended, equalling that of the body ; flagellate 

 appendage usually central, but sometimes developed toward one side of the 

 anterior border, thick at its base, and gradually tapering to the apical 

 extremity, exceeding the length of the body when fully extended ; 

 endoplasm finely granular, enclosing one or more vacuolar spaces or 

 nucleolar bodies. Length 1-1200". 



HAB. Occurring as a parasitic form in the mucous fluid of the eyes, 

 nose, and throat of the human subject. 



This remarkable animalcule is described by its discoverer, Dr. J. H. Salisbury, 

 in the publication above quoted, as constituting the essential cause of certain forms 

 of hay-fever, which he proposes to distinguish as " infusorial catarrh and asthma." 

 This decision is arrived at by him, not through the detection of the animalcule in 

 connection with a single instance only of the above affection, but from its invariable 

 presence in large quantities in as many as sixty cases successfully treated by him, 

 extending over a period of six years, and in all of which instances the recovery of 

 the patient speedily followed the application of remedies causing the death of the 

 animalcules. The diagnosis of the disease, as given by Dr. Salisbury, may be thus 

 abbreviated : The ailment first attacks the mucous surfaces of the eyes and nose, 

 causing a free secretion of tears, and frequently intense paroxysms of sneezing. 

 From the nasal passages the affection extends to the fauces, larynx, trachea, and to 

 the larger and smaller bronchi; burning heat and irritation, accompanied by 

 violent coughing, attend its arrival at the first-named locality, while upon, reach- 

 ing the larger bronchi the symptoms exhibited are very similar to those of 

 "catarrhal fever." Finally invading the smaller bronchi and air-cells, asthmatic 

 symptoms predominate, associated with intense suffering, which is more particularly 

 aggravated by exposure to the night or evening air. Relief was invariably afforded 

 and a speedy cure effected in even the most distressing cases by the frequent 

 inhalation, every hour or two, of a solution of either carbolic acid, tincture ferri 

 chloride, sulphuric, hydrochloric, or nitric acids, the solution in either case being 

 sufficiently weak to avoid irritation during the inhalement. Two grains of quinia 

 sulphate every four hours, or twenty drops of tincture ferri chloride in a glass of water 

 morning, noon, and night, further accelerated the recovery of the patient. The 

 sputa or mucus from the affected parts, examined before and after the first 

 inhalation, demonstrated the presence in the former instance of the animalcules in 

 an actively motile state, while in the latter instance they were mostly dead or 

 motionless, and speedily succumbed to further applications of the remedy. In 

 connection with the more ordinary and milder form of hay-fever, occurring usually 

 during the latter end of May and through June, accompanied by violent sneezing 

 and painful inflammation with the corrosive discharge from the nasal mucous 

 membrane, Professor Helmholtz * has detected the presence within the nasal 



* See ' Nature,' May I4th, 1874. 



