53 



forming- bundles lying in various directions. According 

 to him, this is not the final condition, but is merely a 

 prelude to a further series of changes. He states that 

 this structure soon changes, and the entire substance 

 begins to undergo degeneration, and an entirely homo- 

 geneous mass results containing many deeply-staining 

 granules. Fat globules appear in small numbers, and a 

 columnar epithelium becomes formed near to the external 

 connective tissue of the testis wall. A similar epithelium 

 becomes develoj)ed in the granular mass nearer to the 

 testis. Traced further back the fat globules increase in 

 number, and among them are multitudes of spermatozoa 

 which have been formed from the epithelial cells. 



These later changes described by Fernald are very 

 remarkable, and there can be little doubt that they do not 

 represent the normal state of aflairs, and most probably 

 they are of a pathological nature. The observations of 

 the present writer confirm in all essentials the brief 

 account of the spermatogenesis given by Lecaillon (16). 

 In many examples of Anurida the writer has found 

 Xematode worms,'' and their developmental stages in the 

 testes (Plate YIL, figs. 79 and 80). In several instances, 

 these parasites were found to be so numerous as to 

 destroy the whole internal structure of the testes, leaving 

 behind little more than the bare walls. In other cases 

 the worms were less numerous, and the structure of the 

 organs was only partially destroyed, while many oil 

 globules were present. It is the belief of the present 

 writer that the cycle of later changes described by 

 Fernald are not stages in the process of spermatogenesis, 

 but are of a pathological nature, probably due to the 

 presence of Nematode worms in the testes of the animals 

 which he studied. Unless the presence of these worms is 

 * These parasites were also occasionally met with in the ovaries. 



