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catarrh of the stomach of the cat. In the straying embryonic stage it pro- 

 duces local traumatic irritation, leading eventually to the formation of a 

 miliary nematode tuberculosis of the lungs and liver of the cat. In the 

 true migratory stage, after a change of host, it leads to the production of 

 olulanosis or olulaniasis. 



Surely these phenomena are worthy of attention. Apart from their 

 obvious practical bearing they are sufficiently instructive to the intelligent 

 observer. We have seen how readily these parasites may be mistaken for 

 Trichinae under circumstances where no legitimate suspicion of trichinosis 

 ought to have been entertained. Witness the Swedish epizooty affecting 

 cats. In this connection I may mention that a very curious coincidence came 

 under my notice some ten years back. I will endeavour to recall the facts. 



An eminent surgeon, acting as professional adviser to one of our Railway 

 Companies, requested me to accompany him on a visit to a family of seven 

 or more persons in humble life, all of whom either were at the time, or who 

 had been shortly before, suffering from an obscure disease. The symptoms 

 unquestionably resembled those observed in cases of Trichinosis. If I 

 remember rightly two domestic animals were taken ill about the same period, 

 a donkey and a cat. These had died, and were buried ; the cat compara- 

 tively recently. We hoped to settle the Trichina question then and there ; 

 and having explained to one of the lads the necessity of removing a tiny 

 portion of flesh in order to complete the diagnosis, he willingly submitted 

 to the operation. This act of vivisection occurred without the aid of 

 chloroform, and as it was not performed on a dog, but on a heroic specimen 

 of our own race, I suppose the question of cruelty would not even present 

 itself to the mind of the most ardent opponent of all species of cruelty to 

 animals. Be that as it may, a very tiny fragment of the gastrocnemius 

 muscle was detached and handed to me for microscopic investigation. I found 

 no trichina?, yet still neither of us were convinced that the family disorder 

 was not due to Trichina. Resolved, if possible, to get further light 

 cast upon this mysterious outbreak, Mr. Gay, F.R.C.S., the surgeon in 

 question, ordered the cat to be exhumed. It was examined by others than 

 myself for Trichinosis without success, but the lungs were found to be 

 swarming with nematoids. Thus, in view of identification my efforts were 

 again honoured, and I pronounced the animal to have died from olulanosis — 

 a disease which none of the medical gentlemen who made the feline post- 

 mortem had hitherto heard of. Whatever interpi'etation be put upon the 

 human outbreak, the coincidence of the occurrence in man of an affection 

 symptomatic of trichinosis, found in association with a trichinoid affection 

 in an animal which proved to be olulaniasis, was both curious and instruc- 

 tive. It should, at least, serve as a warning to young observers, and 

 induce them to be very cautious in pronouncing upon the nature of any disease 

 in which they happen to detect the presence of immature nematoid worms 

 coiled up in cysts. 



I may add that a portion of the olulanised lung of the cat in question is 

 preserved in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. The prepara- 

 tion is marked in the catalogue, No. 1814a, and described as " Lung of Cat 

 pneumonic from the presence of parasites." Presented by J. Gay, Esq. 



