94 FILAKIA CtRACILIS. 



where these passages existed, nor does he say in what part of the 

 peritoneal cavity the Avorms were found; neither does he affirm 

 that those openings were actually discovered ; that ,such might 

 have been the case we cannot for a moment doubt ; but in the 

 case before us, after carefully examining the stomach and 

 intestines, I was unable to discover any abnormal opening, nor 

 did these viscera to my surprise contain worms of any kind. 

 After examining them again very carefully without finding 

 worms or perforations, I removed the stomach, but did not at the 

 time think it woith while to preserve the intestines, a circam- 

 stance which I now greatly regret. The stomach, however, as 

 you observe in the specimen, floats in the spirit and water, and 

 being distended with air, it proves the integrity of its coats to be 

 perfect. Whilst engaged in exploring the omentum however, I 

 observed a worm lying in immediate connection with a lymphatic 

 gland, situate near the great curvature of the stomach, towards 

 its pyloric extremity. The gland appears to form one of the 

 third group of lymphatic glands which run along the great 

 curvature in connection with the right gastro-epiploic vessels 

 which empty themselves at the root of the mesentery into one of 

 principal lacteal vessels; and this worm, I am happy to say, is to 

 found in the preparation before you. Now under these circum- 

 stances, as the coats of the stomach and intestines were entire, 

 and we have this worm in immediate connection with the gland, 

 for it appears to be partly within and partly without it, I do not 

 see how we can avoid coming to the conclusion, startling as it 

 may appear, viz., that the ova or minute embryo of the worms 

 found, (for there are several) obtained admission into the openings 

 of the Imyphatic vessels situate in the submucous tissue of the 

 stomach, or into the open mouths of the lacteals of the intestines, 

 and developing there, escaped by ulceration of the gland 

 substance into the peritoneal sac, where they were in this 

 instance discovered. 



It appears from enquiries instituted, that the symptoms evinced 

 by the unfortunate animal from whom these worms were taken, 



