Mr. H. J. Carter on Dracunculus. 411 



clear up many interesting points connected with this Entozoon. 

 They are as follows : — 



1. What I have described and figured as the oesophagus (loc, 

 cit.) is but the sheath of this organ, inasmuch as the latter may 

 be seen within the former, about 1 -600th of an inch in diameter. 

 This corrects the apparent anomaly of the oesophagus being 

 larger, instead of smaller, than the intestine, and makes it agree 

 with the so-called " Tank-worm,^' whose anatomy, both indivi- 

 dually and sexually, with that of other free microscopic Filarice 

 in the island of Bombay, I have lately been able to determine 

 most satisfactorily. 



2. What appears to be the intestine, in Dracunculus , is the 

 hepatic sheath degenerated, within which again is the intestine, 

 about l-70th of an inch in diameter. This also corresponds 

 with the same organ in the microscopic Filarice. 



3. There is not the slightest difference of form in any part of 

 the ovisac of Dracunculus indicating that it was once double, 

 and united together in the centre to form the vagina, as in the 

 free Filaria ; nor is there any projection, or difference in the size 

 of its calibre, either in the large portion or in its filiform extre- 

 mities (which are exactly alike), indicative of its having any 

 connexion with a vaginal aperture. 



4. The ovisac bursts through the body just behind the head of 

 the Dracunculus, on the extrusion of the latter from the human 

 body, and does not pass through an aperture ordained for the 

 evacuation of its contents, in this or in any other part of the 

 worm. 



5. The third or "small papilla'^ which I described and 

 figured about the mouth (loc. cit.), and through which I wrongly 

 conjectured that the ovisac might have its exit, has a similar one 

 opposite to it ; so that there are two prominent and two rudi- 

 mentary papillse, if the latter, which are very small, and cannot 

 be seen to project above the surface, be papillae at all. 



6. The oesophagus, intestine, and position of the anal aper- 

 ture of the young Dracunculus correspond exactly with the same 

 organs and the position of the anus in the free microscopic 

 Filaria-, but no comparison can be drawn between the gene- 

 rative organs in the two, because they are not developed in the 

 former. 



7. Very many species of microscopic Filaria abound in 

 myriads in the salt water of the marshes and main drain, in 

 the freshwater tanks, and in the gelatinous Algse {Glceocapsa) 

 which grow on the sides of old walls and gutters, during the 

 rainy monsoon, in the island of Bombay. Out of several hun- 

 dred specimens of these, I have met with seventeen distinct 



