56 A FURTHER KNOWLEDGE OP THE CYSTIC CESTODES, 



readily visible. Two large vessels are present on either sioe and 

 extend throughout the whole length of the body. Numerous 

 smaller canals were also visible, which seemed to communicate 

 with one of the main trunks on either side. The canals contained 

 a liquid in which were suspended bright refractive granules, 

 rounded or oval in form, in rapid circulation. The direction of ■ 

 the currents in the compressed Cysticercus was of an inconstant 

 character ; at one moment the liquid with the granules might be 

 seen flowing towards the head, then the direction of the current 

 would be reversed and the granules flow towards the posterior 

 end. 



These observations, taken from my rough notes made at the 

 time of examination, do not agree with Monticelli's account* in 

 Scolex polymorphus. Whether this reversal of the direction of 

 the current is a normal feature in our Cysticercus or abnormal 

 and due to the great compression to which it must be subjected 

 before any of the internal details can be made out, I am unable 

 to say. But Monticelli's observation that by an uudulatory move- 

 ment of the walls of the descending trunks the contained liquid 

 transports the calcareous corpuscles to the head, inclines me to 

 the latter belief. 



The refractive granules, referred to above, represent calcai-eous 

 corpuscles similar to those Monticelli has described as existing in 

 the descending trunks of Scolex polymorphus, and which he regards 

 as similar to those described by Fraipont in the accessory branches 

 of the great trunks of the excretory system of Diplostomum. 



Fraipontf in Scolex trygonis pastinacce describes two longitu- 

 dinal vessels on either side, of which one is smaller than its 

 neighbour. The two larger vessels open posteriorly into the 

 pulsatile vesicle, while anteriorly they curve back to form the 

 smaller vessels which at the posterior end resolve themselves into 



* Loc. cit. p. 126. 



+ " Recherches sur 1' appareil excr^teur des Tr^matodes et des Cestodes," 

 Archives de Biologic, T. ii. 1881, p. 5. 



