28 



that they were parasitic bodies, and probably of the nature of 

 small Cysticerci (the larval condition of tapeworms). 



In a letter to Thomas BeU, he relates that he saw three more 

 cases of the same kind during the following year, at Guy's. 



We must now turn our attention to St. Bartholomew's. It 

 appeal's that an Italian named Paolo Bianchi, aged 50, was 

 admitted into that hospital in December, 1834, under the care of 

 Dr. Eoupell. He died apparently of Phthisis, about six weeks 

 after, and his body was brought to the dissecting room. ' Mr. 

 Paget, who is described as then being "an intelligent student," 

 observed that the muscles presented a peculiar appearance, being 

 beset Ti^ith minute whitish specks. The same thing seems to have 

 been noticed before by Mr. Wormald, but the only thing he 

 observed about them was, the very practical point that they 

 blunted the scalpels. Within a fortnight, a second case of the 

 same kind was observed. Specimens from both were carefully 

 examined by Mr. Paget, Mr. Owen, and Dr. Arthur Farre. 



Mr. Paget ha\'ing obtained the assistance of Mr. Brown and 

 Mr. John Bennett, of the British IMuseimi, satisfactorily proved 

 the existence of an Entozoon, and first published that fact to the 

 world. Then in February, 1835, Professor Owen wrote an impor- 

 tant paper on the subject, which was pubUshed in the first volume 

 of the Zoological Society's Transactions. 



As this is the first scientific paper on the subject, we must 

 stop to consider it for a few moments. I think, perhaps. Professor 

 Owen has received more than his due meed of praise for this paper 

 as against Dr. Arthm- Farre, who was working at the same time. 



After giving a good description of the cyst, he deals ^ath the 

 ivorm itself. He describes one end as tapering, the other thicker, 

 and in this he discovers an orifice, which he describes as the 

 mouth and the corresponding end as the head. It turns out 

 however, to be the anus and the tail, if you T^ill.* He could not 

 detect any orifice at the other extremity, nor could he discover 

 any alimentary canal. He says moreover, that the natural 

 transparency of the species is such as not to admit of a doubt 

 as to its wanting the ovarian and seminal tubes and other 

 characteristics of the Nematode worms generally. He of course 



* It is interesting to notice here that the same mistake had been made 

 about a centiuy before in the case of the Tricocephalus dispar, a worm inhabit- 

 ing the Caecum. 



