PIROPLASMA MURIS. 



493 



Piroplasma muris, Fant., from the Blood of 



the White Rat, with Remarks on the 



Genus Piroplasma. 



By 



H. B. Fantliani, B.Sc.Loitd., A.R.C.S., 



Derby Researcli Scholar, University College, London ; and Demonstrator in 

 Biology, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School. 



I. Introductory. 



Among the Haemosporidia few genera are of greater interest 

 to-day tlian Piroplasma. Its complete life-cycle is still 

 unknown, yet " piroplasmosis ^' ^ is a dreaded malady whicli 

 attacks many mammals, including man. In 1893 Smith and 

 Kilborne (46) published their epoch-marking monograph on 

 P. bigeminum, the parasite of Texas fever in cattle. 

 According to Koch, this ranks as one of the three great dis- 

 We owe this useful term to Ligniercs. 



