122 



PARASITES OF MAN 



In the main Davaine's table and my own show a remarkable 

 correspondency, as is seen in the numbers referring to hydatids 

 of the liver, heart, and bones respectively. Where our results 

 do not correspond the explanation of the discrepancy is suffi- 

 ciently simple. The abdominal cases here credited as such in 

 Davaine's table are placed by him under pelvi*, whilst the 

 abdominal cases in my own table not only include the pelvic 

 hydatids, but also two spleen cases, and nineteen others from 

 the peritoneum and intestines. 



As the facts here stand, the liver cases comprise nearly 

 46J per cent. In a large number of cases the entozoon has 

 taken up its abode in organs of vital importance. If statisti- 

 cians and officers of health would obtain an adequate concep- 

 tion of the fatal capabilities of parasites, they should consider 

 these data. In 6 per cent, of all these cases the bladder worm 

 has found its way into the brain, and of course proved fatal to 

 the bearers ; in about 3J per cent, more they took up their 

 residence in the heart, also proving fatal ; whilst of all the 

 other cases put together I reckon that not less than 15 per cent, 

 were concerned in bringing about the death of their hosts. I 

 probably underrate the fatal capabilities of echinococcus disease 

 when I express the conviction that hydatids prove fatal to 25 

 per cent, of all their human victims. 



The recently published analysis of 983 cases by Dr Albert 

 Neisser affords similar results. Of these, 451 were referable 

 to the liver, or 45 '765 per cent. The other cases, reduced as 

 above, show in the main a similar correspondency. 



It may be asked if these facts afford us any assistance in 

 determining the amount of injury that we, as a people, sustain 

 either directly or indirectly from hydatids. On carefully 

 reviewing all the data before me, I may say that it is difficult 



