1880.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 11 



sylvania. The parasite was described, thirty years ago, in the 

 Proceedings of this Acadeni}^, under the names of Filar^ia Canifi 

 cordis and Filaria immitis (see Proc., 18.50,118; 18.5(5,2,5.5), 

 and since has been repeatedly noticed by observers as infesting 

 the dog in Europe, India, China, Japan and this country. 



The specimen presented is accompanied witli a letter from 

 Mrs. Towne, giving an account of the occurrence and symptoms 

 of the parasite as follows : 



" I lost several dogs of different breed, age and birthplace, with 

 the same symptoms — a severe and peculiar cough being the prin- 

 cipal one. A gentleman living on a neighboring island (the Sea 

 Islands of South Carolina) lost over thirty hunting dogs in two 

 or three years with the same symptoms. I watched my two re- 

 maining dogs closelj'. They were a large Newfoundland (mixed); 

 and a small terrier. Both had the peculiar cough, which was 

 excited by any movement, especially after sleeping. It always 

 ended, after a few coughs, in a violent ettbrt to bring something 

 up from the throat. This did not seem nausea or sickness, and 

 as the dogs ncAcr threw up an3'thing, I thought it was due to 

 hairs in the throat. The two dogs had another symptom. 

 When they began to run violently, as at hogs, or a strange dog, 

 they fell down, became stitf and insensible, but in a short time 

 would get up and resume the chase. 



" The little dog died with hemorrhage from the bladder or kid- 

 neys ; but no post-mortem examination was made. 



" The large dog soon began to cough up bloody phlegm, with 

 considerable fresh blood at times. I found in the phlegm one 

 morning two Filariie alive, and at least six inches long. I sent 

 word of. this discovery to the owner of the hunting dogs, and 

 when his next one died he had it opened, and found the heart and 

 liver filled with Filaria?. 



" My large dog grew so ill that I had him shot. His symptoms 

 were drowsiness, sleeping with the upper eyelids raised, and the 

 inner lining showing very red ; holding his head to one side, one 

 ear drooped ; dragging of one hind leg ; turning round and round 

 whenever he attempted to go anywhere; and, finally, spasms, ini 

 which he rolled over and over and drew his head backward. He 

 was fat and had a good appetite to the last. 



" The sister of this dog was given to me. She had a slight cough, 

 but it increased rapidly. After about three months' attempt to 

 cure her, I had her shot before her sutfe rings became severe. Her 

 heart is the one you have. She was fat when she died, and seemed 

 in good health, except for short breath in running, the cough and 

 unusual sleepiness. 



" In the post-mortem of the first dog, I foimd one Filaria lying 

 at full length in the windpipe, and in the large artery others 

 stretched at length and crowded close. Upon cutting into the 



