464 Miscellaneous, 



worm, like the Tania serrafa." M. Valenciennes' observations 

 agree closely with those of Von Siebold already given in this Journal 

 (/. c. supra) ; but he states that the Tseuioid worms produced from 

 the Cysticercus jnsi/ormis in his experiments never possessed gene- 

 rative organs, and the articulations never exhibited the genital pores 

 situated on tubercles of the true TcBuia serrata*. In the case of 

 the second dog referred to by M. Milne-Edwards, in which adult 

 Tsenias furnished with generative organs were found, M. Valenciennes 

 states, that out of the twenty-five specimens of the supposed Tcenia 

 serrafa there were only two in which the generative organs were de- 

 veloped ; these he admits to have belonged to that species, but adds, 

 that as the dog was greatly infested with worms of other species, he 

 is by no means connnced that the two specimens of Tcenia serrata 

 furnished with generative organs were produced from the Cyslicerci 

 administered. He also remarks, in opposition to the opinion of Van 

 Beneden and others, that the Cysticerci are the larval forms of Tsenioid 

 worms ; that notwithstanding the abundance of the Tcenia serrata in 

 the intestines of dogs, even in towns, their opportunities of devouring 

 the entrails of rabbits, the only situation in which the Cysticercus 

 jjisi/ormis has been found, are exceedingly rare ; whilst, with regard 

 to the Cysticercus fascioJaris of the rat, which is stated by Kiichen- 

 meister and Siebold to give rise to the Tcenia crassicoUis of the cat, 

 he observes that the cystic worm in question is of verv' rare occur- 

 rence, although the Tcenia said to be produced from it is to be 

 found in almost every cat. — Comptes Rendus, 30th April 1855, 

 p. 997. 



Note on the Trichomonas vaginalis of DonnL 

 By MM. ScANZONi and Kolliker. 



Notwithstanding the numerous published observations on the 

 Trichomonas vaginalis described by Donne, the true nature of this 

 creature does not yet appear to be ascertained. Some regard it as 

 an animal and place it amongst the Infusoria (Donne, Dujardin 

 and Raspail), or amongst the Acarina (R. Froriep, Ehrenberg). 

 The most recent observers consider the Trichomouads as epithelial 

 cells detached from the uterus, and deny that they are animal orga- 

 nisms (Lebert, Valentin, J. A'^ogel, Von Siebold and R. Wagner). 

 For ourselves, we must confess that we were amongst those who 

 doubted the animal nature of Trichomonas. 



But after having more attentively studied these formations, and 

 the mucus of the generative organs in many individuals, we have 

 ascertained that the mucus of the neck of the uterus never contains 

 Trichomouads, which would not be the case if they were only 

 vibratile cells. "NVe have also seen that the Trichomouads resemble 

 true Infusoria in every respect. 



Before proving this last assertion we may say, that Dorme's 



* It is to be observed, however, that M. Valenciennes does not inform 

 us of the length of time over which his experiments extended. 



