506 H. B. FANTHAM. 



the founders of this group of the Sporozoa, divided it in 

 1901 into three great genera, namely, Ha3ni amoeba, 

 Hsemogregariua, and Piroplasma, Some authorities, 

 although allowing the correctness of the basis of this arrange- 

 ment, would recognise more genera (vide Schaudiun's 

 monograph on the ''Tertian Parasite" aud Minchiu [37, 

 p. 265]). Howevei', the classification and nomenclature of 

 the Hasmosporidia is still in a confused state, indeed few 

 groups of the animal kingdom are so involved from this 

 point of view. Laverau, in a recent essay (23), returns to 

 this matter, and reiterates his former classification, giving 

 also a list of recognised species to date (October, 1905). 

 The species which Lavera.n enumerates under the genus 

 Piroplasma have just been set forth above, and, in addition, 

 P. H. Ross's species from Cercopithecus (44). The species 

 P. donovani, for the Leishmau-Donovan bodies of kala- 

 azar, is open to discussion. 



To consider this point (the systematic position of the 

 Leishman-Donovan bodies) at length is hardly within the 

 purview of this paper. Some of the more important debat- 

 able points may, however, be very briefly sot forth, to show 

 the connection, or otherwise, of these bodies with the genus 

 Piroplasma. 



The Leishman-Donovan bodies are endocellular in habitat, 

 occurring in spleen cells, endothelial cells, leucocytes, and 

 possibly in erythrocytes. Their occurrence in the latter 

 (erythrocytes) is not now generally held, and the first obser- 

 vations of them in this position have been variously inter- 

 preted. These bodies are piroplasmoid in shape, but are 

 bounded by a perfectly definite external layer, more marked 

 and consistent than in a Piroplasma, and possess two well- 

 marked chromatic bodies, dilferentiated in character, as well 

 as an internal "tail." In view of these differences Ross (45) 

 has proposed for the parasites found in cases of kala-azar a 

 new and separate genus Leishmania.^ 



' Containing two species, L. donovani (from Kala-azar) and L. 

 tropica (from DcUii boil or Oriental sore). 



