Miscellaneous. 455 



description is very exact. Nevertheless we would particularly insist 

 upon the fact, that the form of the Trichomonads is generally elon- 

 gated, either ovoid or pyriform, and that their size is very variable 

 (from 0-008 to 0-016 or 0-018 millim.). One of the extremities 

 bears from one to three long flageUiform filaments, of 0-015 to 0*030 

 millim. in length, and at the base of these there are one or more 

 vibratile cilia, which are generally rather short. The opposite ex- 

 tremity of the body is usually elongated into a tail, or slender style, 

 which is rather stiff, and not contractile, and of which the length is 

 sometimes equal to that of the body. We have been unable to find 

 a buccal aperture, although we have thought we saw a slight oblique 

 groove at the anterior portion which bears the ciHa. The interior 

 is finely granular and colourless, without any appearance of a nucleus 

 or of contractile vacuoles. Their movements are very slow when the 

 mucus is diluted with water, or with a weak solution of sugar, for it 

 is rather remarkable that water is very injurious to these animals. 

 When brought in contact with it they swell up, acquire a globular 

 form, and exhibit vacuoles in their interior ; the movements of the 

 vibratile cilia still continue for some time, but without energy, so 

 that the animals do not change their place, and they cease to move 

 in a certain time. Such Trichomonads have a tolerably distinct re- 

 semblance to vibratile cells, and we suspect that those who have put 

 forward the opinion that these organisms do not belong to the animal 

 Series, have been led into error by preparations treated with water. 

 If, on the other hand, pure vaginal mucus be examined with the 

 microscope, it is astonishing to see the mobility and vivacity of these 

 little creatures, and no douTjt will exist as to their nature. 



We shall conclude by remarking, that we have found Trichomonads 

 in many women, both pregnant and the reverse, healthy and affected 

 with leucorrhoea, and that, in our opinion, this animal has no rela- 

 tion with the venereal principle. Nevertheless it is perfectly true, 

 as pointed out by Donne', that the Trichomonads are never found in 

 a vaginal mucus which does not contain mucous or purulent globules, 

 and that they often occur in great numbers in a yellowish, creamy 

 (not frothy, according to Donne), and very acid mucus. A mucus 

 which contains inany of these globules also frequently contains cry p- 

 togamic plants closely alhed to, if not identical with, the Lepsothrix 

 buccalisy Rob. It may consequently be said, that the existence of 

 this parasite is connected with a certain alteration of the vaginal 

 mucus, and that it acquires its greatest development in a truly 

 morbid secretion. — Com^^^es Rendus, 7th May 1855, p. 1076. 



NEW WORK BY MR. GOSSE. 



. Mr. P. H. Gosse has now in the press a * Manual of British 

 Marine Zoology,' in which will be given the characters of every 

 Class, Order, Family and Genus of our native marine animals, from 

 the sponges upwards, with Usts of recognized species, and a figure 

 of .each genus. 



