SPIROPTERA RETICULATA. 643 



cular masses, or those swellings due to the presence of actinomyces ; 

 and as pleuro-pneumonia had been reported to have been prevalent 

 in Queensland, it was a natural inference that this condition had 

 left behind lesions which would lead to the production of tuber- 

 cular deposit in the system, especially as tuberculosis is found to 

 be so prevalent in Queensland. Approaching the investigation of 

 these tumors from a tubercular point of view, it was surprising to 

 find them entirely due to the presence of a parasitic worm, which 

 resembled the Spiropfera reiiculata of the horse. Under a low 

 power of the microscope calcareous worm casts were discovered 

 amongst the debris of the purulent matter which escaped from 

 some of the abscesses when cut open. Further examination dis- 

 closed the nature of the worm, which was seen to be of a filiform 

 shape, with serrations and transverse markings. Only fragments 

 of the worm could be obtained, as apparently the whole adult 

 worm could not be extracted. Where the tumor was not broken 

 down the worm was found to be alive, and, upon a cover-glass 

 preparation being made from the section of one, innumerable ova 

 and embryos were noted. 



Upon using various stains tubercle bacilli were found mingled 

 with the debris of the broken down tissue, showing that we had 

 to deal with tubercvdosis in addition to a worm disease. One very 

 important fact was noted, that no cattle under two years of age 

 were found to be suffering from these tumors, leading one to 

 believe that we were dealing with a parasite that takes a consider- 

 able time — a year or more — to develop and cause mischief. 



Up to the present time no great importance has been attached 

 to this parasitic worm disease, as it was not considered to be of a 

 dangerous or infectious character ; but we believe that it will be 

 found to be very prevalent throughout the colonies which obtain 

 their cattle from Queensland. 



In that colon)' human beings suffer from cold abscesses, which 

 are apparently mysterioiis in their origin. It is probable that this 

 parasitic worm plays an important part in their production. A 

 description of these cold abscesses in the human subject given by 

 Dr. Thompson is identical in every respect with the abscesses 

 found in cattle due to the worm, as they are singular in this 

 respect— they are enclosed in a cyst — there is no burrowing, but 

 the pus is contained within a capsule, and until the walls become 

 attenuated or broken by injury there is no discharge of the matter. 

 As tubercle bacilli are always associated with this disease — possibly 

 secondary to the parasite— the danger to the system of these 

 tumors is obvious ; so, even if the matter were allowed to escape, 

 and the pyogenic membrane scraped and the wound to heal, there 

 wovdd still be the tubercle bacilli to deal with. This constitutes 

 one of the dangers, as tubercle bacilli find in these nests a suitable 

 nidvis f or their growth and multiplication, and so gradually produce 

 general tuberculosis. 



