186 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Alleged Toxic Action of Intestinal Parasites.* — L. Jammes and 

 H. Mandoul have endeavoured, by observation and experiment, to arrive 

 at some definite conclusion on this subject. Their decision is against 

 the theory of toxic action. The influence of the parasites is mainly 

 mechanical, and their irritation leads indirectly to secondary morbid 

 results. 



Notes on Nematodes. f — Von Linstow gives an account of the 

 cloaca in the male of HeteraJcis distans Rud., an intestinal parasite of 

 monkeys. He has notes on Mermis piscinalis sp. n., Neomermis macro- 

 laimus g. et sp. n., Ghordodes betularius sp. n., free living forms. From 

 the sturgeon he reports a new Trematode, Erpucotyle circular is sp. n., and 

 a. new Cestode, Ichthyotamia shorihowi. 



Researches in Helminthology and Parasitology.}— J. Leidy, jun., 

 has collected and issued in a useful form the verbal communications, 

 short papers, and elaborate memoirs, of the late Professor Leidy, which 

 have appeared in various journals from 1845 to 1891. A bibliographical 

 list, with 5!) ( J references, and a complete index to the parasites considered 

 in the volume, are attached. 



New Helminths from West Africa.§ — 0. von Linstow describes 

 from the gut of Erinaceus albiventris, from Nigeria, Physalopteru dispar 

 sp. n., Echinorhynchus cestodiformis sp. n., Tamia voluta sp. n., and 

 from the caecum of Anas boschas /era, near Gottingen, Tcenia (Hymeno- 

 lepis) voluta sp. n. 



Platyhelrninthes. 



Echinococci of Domestic Animals.|| — G. Lichtenheld has made a 

 statistical statement as to the distribution of echinococci in the several 

 organs of the horse, ox, pig, and sheep, together with particulars of the 

 histological features of both sterile and fertile forms. He finds that in 

 older animals the percentage infesting the liver is distinctly smaller than 

 in younger forms, while of other organs infected it is correspondingly 

 higher. Of the total oxen examined, GO per cent, of the parasites were 

 found in the lungs ; of horses, 1)1 per cent, in the liver ; of sheep, 52 and 

 45 per cent, in lungs and liver respectively ; boars yielded 74, and sows 

 72 per cent, respectively from the liver. Other organs infected were 

 spleen, kidney, heart, and sub-peritoneal tissues. The connective tissue 

 envelope of echinococci arises from a reactive inflammation of the in- 

 fected organ. In sterile echinococci the inner layer retains its cellular 

 character ; in the fertile, the inner layers are transformed into fibrous 

 tissue, while the outer gives rise to a new formation of cellular elements. 

 Of the young undeveloped echinococci, the author regards those which 

 have led to necrosis of the surrounding delicate cells, and to the develop- 

 ment of a strong connective tissue envelope, as a first stage of the fertile ; 

 and all the others as a first stage of the sterile. 



* Comptes Rendus, cxxxviii. (1904) pp. 1734-0. 



+ Arch. Mikr. Anat., lxiv. (11)04) pp. 4*4-97 (1 pi.). 



t Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Washington, xlvi. (1904) pp. 1-281. 



§ Centralbl. Bakt. Parasitenk., xxxvi. (1004) pp. 379-83 (1 pi.). 



|| Tom. cit., No. 4, pp. 540-50, and xxxvii.. No. 1, pp. 64-72 (1 pi.). 



