H. T. WHITTELL ON THE DEGENERATION OF HYDATID CYSTS. 53 



longed search, I found several psorospermial bodies, similar in all 

 respects to those I found in my first case. These were so few in 

 number, that not more than two or three appeared in the field under 

 an J in. object glass. The patient again returned home, but came 

 back seven months afterwards, and begged me to repeat the opera- 

 tion, as she thought the swelling was again increasing. I operated 

 in the early part of last year (1879), and used a larger tube than 

 before. 1 obtained, however, only a small quantity of thick fluid 

 resembling pus. A microscopical examination of this fluid showed 

 that the comparative number of psorospermial bodies had now largely 

 increased. 



At a recent " Gossip Meeting *' of this Club, most of us had an 

 opportunity of seeing a beautiful preparation shown by Dr, Cobbold 

 of psorosperms, obtained from the liver of a rabbit. These were 

 much larger than the psorospermial bodies obtained from Hydatich^ 

 and, in fact, have little or no resemblance to them. They have 

 more body in them, if I may so express it, and have more distinct 

 evidence of organization. 



From the cases that have come under my observation, I believe we 

 are justified in concluding — 1st. That Psorospermia are frequently 

 to be met with in hydatid cysts, their existence there affording an 

 example of a parasite within a parasite. 2nd. That these bodies 

 are not found in the early life of the Hydatid. 3rd. That when they 

 are found they afi'ord evidence that degenerative changes have 

 already commenced in the cyst. The question yet remaining to be 

 determined is, What role do these psorospermia play in the degene- 

 rative change ? Are they the cause of the degeneration and death 

 of the Hydatid, or do they multiply and grow simply because a cyst 

 in a state of degeneration affords a favourable breeding ground for 

 their development ? We do not yet know enough of the conditions 

 of life in Psorospermia to answer this question. Our President, 

 long ago, demonstrated that similar bodies inay exist in the higher 

 animals without any apparent injury to the animals themselves, or 

 to those who partake of their flesh for food. I am, however, a little 

 inclined to the opinion that in the case of Hydatids, the existence of 

 these bodies have a greater significance, and I think it probable that 

 extended research will show that they have an active part in pro- 

 ducing those degenerative changes which, so far as I have been able 

 to make out, are always in progress when their presence can be 

 demonstrated. 



