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EEMAEKS ON THE FLUKE (FASCIOLA SEPTICA), 



By E. D. Haerop, F.E.M.S. 



Having lately had an opportunity of examining and dissect- 

 ing specimens of Fluke, and in consequence having had to 

 refer to some of the literature extant relating thereto, I ven- 

 ture to lay before your learned Society a few remarks, bearing 

 more particularly on the generative organs, and reproduction 

 of this parasite. 



I beg to offer for examination by the Members, preparations 

 as follows : — 



Slide No. 1. Fasciola liepaticttj taken from liver of sheep 

 killed in the Midland District, showing oral and ventral 

 suckers. 



Slide No. 2. Portion of uterus, with eggs packed in situ. 



Slide No. 3. Eggs of Fasciola hepatica. 



Slide No. 4. Same ; with operculum off, and vitelline con- 

 tents extruded, also showing filamentoid spermatozoa. 



These parasites are perfectly hermaphrodite. Their gene- 

 rative organs are well understood, and in proportion to the 

 size of the animal, the extent and complication of these organs 

 are astonishing. The male apparatus, the uterine cavity and 

 oviduct, the yelk forming glands, occupy by far the greatest 

 portion of the body. 



Siebold says, "the female apparatus of the trematodes con- 

 sists of a germ forming organ (ovary), with its excretory 

 duct ; then two others for forming the vitellus, which have 

 also excretory ducts, and then a simple uterus with its vagina. 

 The male apparatus consists of testicles with their excretory 

 canals, an internal seminal vesicle, a cirrhus-sac, an external 

 seminal vesicle, and a penis." 



This simple and concise description fails to convey a suffi- 

 ciently enlarged idea of the beautiful arrangement and extent 

 of the organ devoted to reproduction in the species under 

 consideration. The whole circumference of the body just 

 beneath the skin is occupied by the ovaries, from these ovifer- 

 ous canals arise, and uniting on each side of the body, convey 

 their contents into the large oviducts which terminate in the 

 uterus. The male apparatus takes up the centre of the body. 

 The testes, consisting of a great number of small and much 

 convoluted vessels, terminate in two large tubes which convey 

 the spermatic fluid to the vas deferens, which becoming 

 attenuated, terminates at the root of the penis. 



The uterus consists of a tortuous tube filled with eggs. A 

 portion of the uterus is shown in preparation No. 2. The eggs 



