364 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



collected some plants of Talinum teretifolium Pursh, on the ser- 

 pentine rocks of Chester County, near Westchester, and transferred 

 them to the small garden in the rear of my house in this city. 

 The place chosen for them was close to the hydrant, wliere the 

 very rich soil was constantl}' in a humid condition. Tlie plants 

 throve greatly', producing flowers and perfect fruit in abundance, 

 and extending their tuber-like roots on all sides. In the early 

 spring, observing these roots half-exposed on the surfoce of the 

 ground, I pressed them down with my finger and covered them 

 with earth. The plants continued to thrive and multiply in this 

 situation for several years, forming a thick mat of considerai)le 

 extent, with no further care than the occasional covering of their 

 roots in the spring. Subsequently the}^ were superseded b}'^ Hel- 

 onias bullata^ for which their site was the best in my possession. 

 This, however, bloomed but feebly and died in the early heat of 

 the next summer. 



When we consider that Talinum teretifolium grows only on 

 dry rocks and, in Pennsylvania, is confined to the ledges and fis- 

 sures of the serpentine, seeking, as it were by preference, tlie 

 jjoorest and dryest soils, it affords a striking illustration of the 

 truth of Mr. Meehan's remark that nature does not always put 

 plants in places most suitable to their growth. Wiiat condition 

 essential to the perpetuation of this plant exists in the arid ser- 

 pentine, I am not able to state. It may concern the germination 

 of its seed or the protection of its fleshy roots. It certainly does 

 not govern its nutrition and fructification. 



October 14. 

 The President, Dr. Ruschenberger, in the chair. 

 Twent\'-seven members pi'esent. 



On Distoma hepaticum. Prof Leidy stated that he had received 

 a letter from Prof Gross, inclosing one from Dr. J. G. Kerr, of 

 Canton, China, asking information in regard to a worm accompany- 

 ing the letter. Dr. Kerr observes that the worm was vomited by 

 a Chinese bo}', aged fifteen years, and was brought to him an hour 

 after its expulsion, when it was still alive. It had the appearance 

 of a leech, was red in color, about an inch and a half long and 

 three-fourths of an inch where widest. Dr. Kerr also states that 

 a girl, of four j^ears, of English parents, living in Canton, passed 

 from the bowels at one time nine of these worms. With these 

 exceptions. Dr. Kerr had not met with any one who had ever seen 

 or heard of anvthing of the kind. 



Prof. Leidy exhibited the specimen and expressed the opinion 

 that the worm was a Liver-fluke. Dixtoma hepaticum^ a rare para- 

 site in the human subject, though common enough in cattle, espe- 



