644 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION I. 



In tropical countries, sucli as Queer. sland, parasitic worms 

 abound, as well as tuberculosis ; but in the temperate climate of 

 Tasmania worm nests and tuberculosis are unknown amongst 

 cattle that are native bred, these diseases being only found in 

 animals imported for food. In South Australia, from observations 

 made some years back, we believe that the same diseases -wiil be 

 found amongst the cattle. 



With regard to the possible transmission of this parasitic worm 

 to man, we believe that this is quite possible by the ingestion of 

 the flesh of animals suffering from this disease, but that it is more 

 than probable that the disease is communicated by drinking con- 

 taminated water. Apparently no intermediate host is required or 

 exists to complete their development, as the embryos seem perfect 

 even in the oviduct, the transverse markings being distinctly 

 observed. The embryos are about Tooth of an inch in length, and 

 we find them in the surrounding tissues of the tumor, scarcely dis- 

 tinguishable from elongated nuclei. They are uniform in shape 

 from head to almost the extreme point of the tail. When grown 

 into the adult form the transverse markings are found to be rugate, 

 ridges running across as well as longitudinally. This is the best 

 noticeable in the fresh state. The outline of its body shows these 

 ridges as a serrated edge, which is very characteristic of this worm. 

 The two oviducts and intestinal canal are plainly visible in the 

 adult woi-m under the microscope, and in the oviducts are easily 

 seen the ova and embryos in various stages of development. Only 

 fragments of the adult worm have as yet been extracted, as the 

 whole length is coiled up in the nests, and are so surrounded with 

 fibrous tissue, and locked tip so firmly, that it is impossible to 

 extract or uncoil any great length. The portions removed resemble 

 bits of thread. A section of a small tumor or nodule containing 

 the worm has a perforated or reticulated appearance, and hence 

 the name Spiroptera retictdata. Hitherto the head of the adult 

 worm has not been found owing to the difficulty of extracting it 

 fi-om its fibrous bed, but Mr. Park has succeeded in obtaining from 

 the debris of the pus from or,e of the tumors, by careful washing, 

 a head which is remarkable in appearance, and which agrees in all 

 particulars as regards size and shape with the rest of the parasitic 

 worm ; but vmtil more than one is obtained there is not sufficient 

 evidence to show that this head belongs to the particular woim 

 under observation. This head that has been found h^s teeth-like 

 projections and briar-like barbs encircling in a spiral manner in 

 numerous rows, thus presenting a formidable appearance. Should 

 such a head once become fixed, it would remain, as it would 

 be difficult, if not impossible, -for it to be extracted. The 

 system once invaded by this worm is ever at its mercy. The 

 measurement of the adult worm is difficult, as only fragments can 

 be obtained ; but if Ave coimt the number of transverse nuirkings 

 on the embryo, and by means of a micrometer measure the space 



