264 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



an entozoan. Some of these were sent to St. Louis for identification, but 

 were reported as unknown to them. 



With the report Dr. Adderly exhibited a few of the entozoa in a small 

 vial of formaline. These were later brought to me by Dr. A. M. Lee, 

 President of the Association. They were new to me. From correspond- 

 ence with Dr. C. W. Stiles, of the Bureau of Animal Industry, Washington, 

 D. C, and others, I have decided that the entozoan is new and therefore 

 propose for it the above name. Doctors Howard and Coquillett pro- 

 nounce it without hesitation the larva of a species of Gastrophilns, 

 though in some points it seems to me to resemble some species of the 



allied genus Dennatobia. 



For several reasons this entozoan found in the enteric canal of this 

 boy seemed to be the cause of the epilepsy, ist. After a free catharthesis 

 the spasms would cease for from three to six weeks, or till a new brood 

 were grown. 2nd. The boy had with the spasms globus hystericus, which 

 is reflex from the pelvic organs. 3rd. That the spasms were those of 

 genuine epilepsy there was no doubt, as there were all the usual symptoms, 

 including mental aberration. 4th. Two other cases of epilepsy are known 

 to the writer where these parasites have been found, one in Chicago and 

 the other in Sparta, 111. 5th. Upon Dr. Adderly's changing his treatment 

 from that usually followed in epilepsy to anthelmintics, the boy recovered, 

 having had only one spasm since beginning that line of treatment. Under 

 date of May rpth he writes me: "My little patient seems to be in 

 excellent health, and I hope it will be permanent." 



As to the adult state of this larva I can say nothing now, nor how it 

 gains entrance to the human system. I had hoped to get more material 

 before writing this, from which I might answer both of these questions, 

 but as yet have not succeeded. But the continuous infestation of the 

 enteric canal by dipterous larvae is not new. Dr. J- Gasser. of the 

 military hospital of Oran, Algeria, reports a case of ten years' standing. 

 The date of this report was 1895. 



An interesting exhibit prepared for the Paris Exposition is a com- 

 plete set of bed hangings manufactured in Madagascar from silk pro- 

 cured from the halabe, an enormous spider found in certain districts of 

 the island. Aside from being so unusual, this exhibit seems to indicate 

 that there is a future for silk manufactured from spider's web. The 

 matter has received the attention of M. Nogue, the head of the Antana- 

 narivo Technical School, who has already achieved wonderful results. 

 Each spider yields from three to four hundred yards of silk, which can 

 be taken from the animal every ten days, it being set free in the interval. 

 The silk of these spiders is stated to be finer than that of the silkworm 

 and of an extraordinary golden colour. It is extremely tenacious, and 

 can be woven without the slightest difficulty. — N. V. Post. 



