SAKCUSI'OKIUIA. 20I 



The class has, however, been retained in deference of custom 

 and convenience. Other points relating to the further grouping" 

 of the Sarcospori(ha in the class Sporozoa will he considered 

 further on. 



Blanchard proposed to divide the Sarcosporidia into two 

 families, as to whether they are found in the muscles (Miescheria ) 

 or in the connective tissues I Balbiaiia). These two families 

 were recognised as comprising three genera, which were differ- 

 entiated b}' the thickness of the envelojiing membrane or cuticle 

 of the ])arasite. The genus Miescheria inchuled the intra- 

 muscular species surroimded by a thin mcmljrane. and the genus 

 Sarcoeystis the intranuiscular species which had a thick cajisule, 

 penetrated bv fine canaliculi. The genus Balhiaiia comprised 

 the parasites found in the connective tissues, and these had a 

 thin cuticle. These so-called genera are, iKnvever. merely stages 

 in the life history of the same parasite.* Moreover, there is 

 no ground fctr separating the order into Balbiaiia and Miescheria 

 depending on their presence in the muscle fibre, or in the intra- 

 muscu'ar ccninective tissue respectively, since the}' only represent 

 different forms of growth of the sarcocyst.t In old infectious 

 the parasite may have destro>ed the muscle fibre completel}', so 

 tht\t the Miescheria tubes lie in the connective tissue {Miescheria) . 

 To avoid ftu-ther discussion here on the classification, the Sar- 

 cosporidia will be considered an order of the Sporozoa, the order 

 being rejjresentcd 1)\' a single genus Sareocysfis with several 

 species. Ilie following arc some of the principal species that 

 have been recognised 1)\ <onie of the investigators: — 



(a) Siircocystis iiiitris. tdnnd in mice and rats. 



(b) Sarcocystis tiiicsclu ria. a i)ara.site of pigs. 



(c) Sarcocj'Sti.s teiu'lla, a common ])arasite of sIkci) and goats. This 

 parasite lias l)een funnd in man. Prnl)a1)1\ tlii^- species alsf) occnrs in 

 cattle. 



( (/ i S'di'i'iuw'slis iimniUw. found li\- Kartnlis in mnltiiile abscesses i>f 

 the liver and nniscles nf a Sudanese. 



(c) Balbiaiia inucosc, found Ii\ Pdanchard in the kani^aroo. and in 

 the connective tissue of a Suchniese. 



(/) Sarcocystis blaiichardi. a parasite of Kurojiean and. Javanese 

 buftaloes. 



(.e) Sarcocytis ,iiii::c!l(C. found liv i'.alfour (kjij) in the striped 

 muscle of a Ga.zcUa rufifrai's. etc. 



However, in light of recent researches by \'an Betegh and 

 Doreich (T912), the creation of these different species may not 

 be justifiable, for their researches tend to show that possibly 

 the same sjiecies of Sarcocystis may occttr in a ntmiber of dif- 

 ferent species of animals, and indifferently in birds and mamm;ils. 



Hosts of the SAucospoRiDrA. 



In 1843 Miescher discovered in the muscle fibres of the 

 house mouse a peculiar form of parasite, the aggregation of 

 which, in tubular form, were visible to the naked eye. These 



*Laveran and ^fesnil. 

 + Kvrfram and Van Ratz. 



