Proteosoma to Birds ~by the Mosquito. 453 



(large and small) in most points closely resembling those in which 

 Eoss had previously found pigmented cells after feeding on a patient 

 with crescents. So far our results have been negative ; but, in view of 

 the peculiar climatic conditions, and of the possibility of the first stage, 

 that of formation of coccidia, being inhibited by the cold, we are not 

 prepared to accept these results as conclusive. 



15. With Major Eoss, I have examined the organs of some persons 

 (eight) who died of kala azar. This appears to be an infectious disease, 

 indistinguishable at first from malaria. Chronic in character, it 

 continues for months and becomes associated with enlargement of the 

 spleen and liver, and progressive anaemia. The present opinion of 

 most of those who have been deputed to investigate kala azar, as 

 well as of those with longest and most intimate experience of the 

 disease, is strongly in favour of the view that it is malarial in origin. 



The melanin or black pigment was absent in the organs of some of 

 the cases I examined ; but in all but one yellow pigment was present 

 in the liver, and in most in the kidneys and spleen also, indicating 

 haemolysis. The iron reaction with acidified potassium ferrocyanide 

 was obtained in the spleen in three instances and, in one, in the liver 

 also. 



So abundant and chronic a haemolysis in cases of malaria, continued 

 moreover after the parasite has ceased to be present (at any rate in 

 sufficient numbers to be found in the peripheral blood or to cause 

 appreciable deposit of melanin in the organs), raises the important 

 question as to the possibility of the differentiation of parasites, with 

 imperceptible- morphological differences, by their toxic or haemolytic 

 properties. 



16. Haemoglobinuric fever seems to have been fairly common of late 

 in some parts of India. I am collecting information, and have 

 requested the editor of the ' Indian Medical Gazette,' to insert in 

 that Journal a series of questions on the subject. Haemoglobinuria 

 does not occur in kala azar notwithstanding the great amount of 

 haemolysis which takes place in that disease. 



I regret the length of this report, but the main subject of it, Major 

 Eoss' researches, cannot be dealt with in a few words, as they supply a 

 basis for our future operations. 



[It is necessary to point out that the word " coccidium " has been 

 used by Major Eoss and in Dr. Daniel's report above printed in a 

 peculiar and not readily intelligible sense. " Coccidium " is the name 

 of a genus of Sporozoa established by Leuckart in 1879 for the cell- 

 parasite of the rabbit's liver, called Coccidium omfdrme, and other allied 

 species. " Proteosoma " is the name given by Labbe to another genus 

 of Sporozoa parasitic in the blood-cells of birds. When Major Eoss 

 states in his report, dated May 21, 1898, that certain " parasites are 



