THE CHROMATIN MASSES OF PIKOPLASMA BIGEMINUM. 319 



from the gut of ticks, with protoplasmic radiations at the 

 blunt ("polar") end, there is a larger nucleus at this end and 

 a smaller blepharoplast-like body nearer the other (''apical") 

 end. Three chromatin masses are seen in the zygote-like 

 forms, with radiations at opposite poles. It is remarkable 

 that Kleiue (2) obtained similar results by cultural methods 

 in the case of P. can is. 



The superficial resemblance of Piroplasmata, exhibiting 

 well-marked nuclear dimorphism, to the Leishmau-Donovau 

 body is striking. At one time it occurred to me that, perhaps, 

 the loose chromatin of Piroplasma, in some forms of its 

 distribution, might be compared with the ''tail" ^ of chromatin 

 in the Ijeishman-Donovan body, though this "tail," when 

 present, seems to be always attached to the blepharoplast of 

 the Leishman-Donovan body, and stains rather darkly, and 

 the resemblance to loose chromatin is none too well marked. 

 Laveran and Mesnil would seem to be perhaps justified in 

 placingthis body in the genus Piroplasma (as P. dono vani), 

 considering superficial appearances only, but the 

 difference of habitat must be borne in mind, and the Leishman- 

 Donovan bodies are rarely, if ever, intra-corpuscular. The 

 chromatin masses of the Leishman-Donovan bodies, too, are 

 Avell defined. Flagellate stages most probably do occur in the 

 life-cycle of these bodies (cf. Rogers, Christophers, Leishman, 

 and others on "cultures."). 



I will venture, however, to make a suggestion on the 

 "nuclear dimorphism" of Piroplasma from a rather 

 different point of view, namely, its relation and interpretation 

 in terms of the distribution of chromatin in the Protozoa 

 generally (vide Mesnil [6]). From this standpoint it is 

 probable that the nucleus (large chromatic body) of Piro- 



• This " lail," wliicli is stated to occur in some of the larger forms of the 

 Leishman-Donovan parasite, is periiaps, on the other liand,only the developing 

 fliigellum of the flagellate stages first found by Kogers in cultures, though one 

 hardly gathers this from the published accounts of the formation of the 

 flagellum. This chromatin "tail" merits further consideration by w^orkers 

 with the necessary material, for a flagellum does not occur in parasites in the 

 human spleen. 



