270 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
largely distended and the kidneys were twice the normal size. Ovaries 
moderately developed, but not sufficiently to account for the abnormal 
distension. Besides the Myxosporidia, the kidneys showed an extensive 
invasion of bacteria. 
i ffects.—There can, Ohlmacher says, be scarcely any doubt that the 
Myxosporidia were the direct factors in the pathologic changes. Their 
number was very great, the tubules of both kidneys being filled. The 
mere mechanical effect must have been obstruction of secretion and as 
a remote result ascites and general cedema. Undoubtedly the presence 
of large numbers of bacteria (to be regarded as a secondary infection) 
was a potent factor in hastening death. 
Subsequent comparisons with sections of the kidneys of other toads 
show the tubules in the first toad to have been dilated and their lining 
cells to have been flattened and less rich in protoplasmic material than 
normal. The kidneys of the 5 comparatively slightly infected toads 
collected in July, 1893, showed no macroscopic lesions. Microscopically 
no bacteria could be found. The absence of the bacteria, Dr. OhImacher 
thinks, probably had as much weight in determining the comparative 
innocuity as the smallness of the number of Myxosporidia (letter, 1893). 
Through the kindness of Dr. Ohlmacher I have been enabled to 
examine his specimens, and can add the following: 
Orientation of the spore—The capsules are 2. in 1 group, anterior; 
valve-junetion plane, vertical; shorter axis of spore, antero-posterior ; 
longer axis, transverse. Sporoplasm showing no evidence of a vac- 
uole, even in iodine-stained sections. Beyond a slight median notch 
in its posterior border (produced, I believe, by a slight inward, as well 
as outward, projection of the ridge), Iwas not able to find any evidence 
of sporoplasm-segmentation, and am therefore compelled to regard this 
as an optical illusion, produced by the overlying ridge and reinforced by 
the posterior median notch. 
This orientation necessitates the reference of this species to Chloro- 
myxum (Spherospora). From C. (S.) elegans it is distinguished by its 
transversely elliptic outline and its dimensions. The fact of its iden- 
tical organal distribution (renal tubules) should also be noted. 
Finally, Dr. J. B. Whinery has recently published the results of a 
careful detailed restudy of this species. Ue gives the following tabie, 
showing the equivalence of Ohlmacher’s nomenclature with that I 
have adopted: 
Ohlmacher’s term. Present equivalent. 
Cansnless-= 2 omen Shell. 
Pole corpuscle......--| Capsule. 
Plasmatic mass. .-.--- Sporoplasm, 
Projectile thread...... Filament. 
Seley We Saban AbASbeme cas Anterior and posterior ends. 
TG asd on accoecanSon Sides. 
Wa CTIOLO lz ccmiaemeee esi Pericystic space. 
