THE ANIMAL PARASITES OF MAN 



oesophagus, measures 07 mm. in length and 0-4 mm. in breadth. 

 The intestine bifurcates at the limit of the cephalic cone and the 

 branches are even here furnished with diverticula directed outwardly. 

 The ovary is ramified and situated in front of the transverse vitelline 

 duct, usually on the right side; the shell gland lies near the ovary in 

 the median line ; posterior to the transverse vitelline ducts are the 

 greatly ramified testes, which occupy the greater portion of the 

 posterior part of the body, with the exception 

 of the lateral and posterior border ; the long 

 vasa efferentia only unite as they enter the 

 cirrus pouch. The vitellaria occupy the sides 

 of the posterior part of the body, commencing 

 at the level of the ventral sucker and uniting 

 behind the testes. The ova are yellowish-brown, 

 oval, operculated, 130 p to 145 //, in length, 70 fjb 

 to 90 /j, in breadth (average size 132 p by 70 /z). 

 The Liver Fluke inhabits the bile-ducts of 

 numerous herbivorous mammals (sheep, ox, 

 goat, horse, ass, rabbit, 1 guinea-pig, squirrel, 

 beaver, deer, roe, antelope, camel, kangaroo, 

 and others), and is distributed over the whole 

 of Europe, though not to an equal extent. It 

 is further known in North Africa, in North and 

 South America, as well as in Australia ; it is 

 also found in Asia, as it has been reported 

 from Japan, China, and Tonkin (Gaide, two 

 cases in man). In some districts of Germany 

 it is very frequent, and the slaughter-house 

 statistics of various places show that it is of 

 daily occurrence. Fasciola magna occurs in 

 herbivora in America. 



The liver fluke, however, is by no means a 

 harmless parasite, for it produces in domestic 

 animals, more especially in sheep, a disease of the liver that appears 

 epidemically in certain years and districts, and commits great ravages 

 amongst the flocks. 



[The following records show the enormous loss caused in sheep 

 by this parasite. In 1812, in the Midi, principally in the Departments 

 of the Rhone, Herault, and Gard, the disease was rampant ; 300,000 

 sheep perished in the Aries territory, and 90,000 in the Arrondissements 

 of Nimes and Montpellier. In 1829 and 1830, in the Department 



that is not yet mature, 

 showing the gut and its 

 branches. 5/1. 



1 [There does not seem to be any direct evidence of either rabbits or hares normally 

 being invaded by this fluke. F. V. T.] 



