568 Proceedings. 



Fifth Meeting : 14th October, 1902. 



Professor Benham, President, in the chair. 



New Member.— Mr. J. S. S. Cooper, M.A., B.Sc. 



Papers. — 1. " On Tcenia echinococcus and Hydatid 

 Disease," by Dr. Barnett. 



In the course of his remarks the author stated that hydatid disease 

 was much more prevalent in some countries than in others. It was most 

 so in Iceland, where the disease accounted for quite one- tenth — some said 

 one-sixth — of the inhabitants, the reason being that the people of Iceland 

 were extremely filthy in their habits, their dogs sleeping with them in 

 their huts. The disease was common in some of the Australian States, 

 and there was far too much of it in New Zealand. Taking only the 

 Government hospitals of the colony for the five years ending 1896, there 

 were 146 cases of hydatid disease, and twenty-two deaths. For the five 

 years ending 1901 there were 226 cases, with forty deaths, a large in- 

 crease. Taking the four leading towns for five years ending 1901, in 

 Auckland Hospital there were fifteen cases, with five deaths ; at Welling- 

 ton twenty-nine cases, with six deaths ; at Christchurch twenty-five cases, 

 with four deaths ; and at Dunedin sixty-two cases, with nine deaths. This 

 showed that Dunedin was more favoured by the disease than any other 

 part of the colony. The lecturer then dealt with the leading points in 

 the structure and history of the aduit Tcenia, which he stated was found 

 in the dog alone, and he ventured to say that locally every second dog 

 would be found affected. As for live-stock, almost every animal killed 

 for consumption had the hydatid cystic stage present in its viscera, 

 though this did not affect it as food. As for the dogs, they could hardly 

 help becoming contaminated, as the offal from the animals killed was 

 thrown to them. There was a law preventing its being thrown to pigs ; 

 but, strange to say, none in regard to the dog, the only animal in New 

 Zealand that could disseminate the disease. This, he had shown, was 

 increasing in Otago. and things should not be allowed to go on as at 

 present. He then indicated how the spread of the disease was to be pre- 

 vented, laying particular emphasis on the treatment of dogs, and the 

 avoidance of the use of impure drinking-water. 



The paper evoked considerable discussion, both the Chairman and 

 Mr. G. M. Thomson suggesting that it was a matter for investigation by 

 medical men. 



2. " An Account of the Fiji Fire-walking Ceremony, or 

 Vilavilairevo, with a Probable Explanation of the Mystery," 

 by Dr. B. Fulton. (Transactions, p. 187.) 



The Chairman announced that Mr. J. C. Thomson had 

 been elected to fill a vacancy on the Council. 



Sixth Meeting : 14th October, 1902. 

 Professor Benham, President, in the chair. 



Papers. — 1. " On the Wanganui Gravels," uy Dr. P. 

 Marshall. 



2. " Some New Species of New Zealand Earthworms,' 

 by Professor Benham. (Transactions, p. 277.) 



