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



forms of life of a lower type, that I wish to draw your attention. I 

 haA^e here some specimens of the fluid found in cysts in Avhich this 

 form of degeneration had occurred, and also some slides mounted 

 with the same fluid, in which these lower organisms are distinctly 

 shown. 



The history of the patient from whom these were obtained was 

 interesting and peculiar. Without troubling you with details of a 

 medical character, I may give you a brief outline of the case. The 

 patient was a rather stout gentleman, of middle life, who having 

 met with an accident, believed that all his symptoms were due to 

 this cause. It was noticed that a swelling formed just over the lower 

 region of the liver. This gradually enlarged, and was accompanied 

 With occasional paroxysms of pain and a faint jaundice. As the 

 swelling continued to increase, it was determined to pass in a fine 

 exploring needle, but no fluid came down the tube. Later on a 

 second exploration was made, but only a few drops of a yellowish- 

 grey fluid were obtained. Later still a larger sized tube was passed 

 into the swelling, and about half a pint of thick fluid, supposed to 

 be pus, was obtained. A portion of this was brought to me for 

 microscopical examination, with a view to ascertain whether there 

 could be found any of the booklets of Echinococci or any other 

 remains of Hydatids. I found no traces of pus ; the fluid appeared 

 to be composed chiefly of fatty and granular matter, mixed with the 

 remains of Echinococci, such as booklets, cholesterine, and portions 

 of the walls of the cyst. This cleared up the diagnosis, and left no 

 doubt that the tumour had been formed by an Hydatid, and that at 

 the time of puncture a process of degeneration had begun. While 

 searching for booklets, I discovered that the field was studded with 

 curious-looking bodies, such as I had never seen before. These were 

 so transparent and delicate in structure that I found it necessary to 

 adjust the illumination as carefully as one has to do when looking 

 for the lines on an Amphipleura, before I could get a satisfactory 

 view. The drawing on Plate III will give some idea of some 

 of the forms met with. It will be seen that they diff'er in shape 

 and size, but there is a general family likeness in all of them. They 

 appear to be flattened bodies, the greater number of which are ovoid 

 in shape. The largest I have measured was -^\-q inch long, and 

 ■x-Y^is ii^ch wide. Some of the smaller specimens measured yJ^Fo 

 inch long, and -g-g^y^ wide. Some are considerably elongated, while 

 others look like mere specks under a ^ in. objective, but when care- 

 fully examined under a ^-^ in. immersion lens, they show the same 



