318 H. B. FANTHAM. 



It may he stated at this point that the dimensions of the 

 larger iiiti-a-corpuscular parasites examined was broadly about 

 3 ^ by I'b fi, aud agreed well with the measurements given by 

 former observers^ though variations occur. The nucleus 

 (largest dense chromatin mass) was from 0'3ju to nearly 1 fi 

 in long diameter in some forms, and exhibited variations in 

 size in different specimens. The so-called blepharoplast was 

 sometimes only about half that in diameter. 



VI. The Probable Significance of Nuclear Dimorphism 

 IN Piroplasma. 



As far as evidence goes at present — that is, considering the 

 observations of 8chaudiun (9), Lulie (4, 5), aud Nuttall aud 

 Grraham- Smith (8), as well as those herein set forth, it would 

 appear that there is some justification for the terms " nucleus" 

 and " blepharoplast," as applied to the larger and smaller 

 dense chromatin masses respectively in Piroplasmata, at any 

 rate, as a " working hypothesis " (Schaudiun), and so suggest- 

 ing affinities of this rather aberrant Hasmosporidian genus 

 with the Hgemoflagellates. 



The loose, reticulate chromatin, it seems to me, might 

 similarly be tentatively compared with the chromatoid 

 granules often recorded in Trypanosomes, though the loose 

 chromatin of Piroplasma appears to be relatively of greater 

 bulk. 



Mention has already been made of Schaiidiuu's observation 

 on Weber's blood films taken at night from a diseased cow, 

 and Kossel and Weber's films from the gut of ticks. It is 

 much to be regretted that the trypanosome-like organisms 

 occurring in these preparations were not subjected to a 

 lengthy aud detailed examination and carefully figured. Even 

 then the question of a double infection would not have been 

 disposed of satisfactorily. 



Also, it has been mentioned that Koch's (1) and Kleiue's (2) 

 researches do not at all support, so far as known at present, 

 the hypothesis oF a try pani form phase in the life-history of 

 Piro[)lasni a. However, in Koch's large pyriform parasites 



