134 PARASITES OF MAN 



there is yet another fine preparation of liver hydatids, occurring 

 in a lad, nineteen years of age. He had, it seems, met with 

 "a slight accident, and died with obscure head symptoms;" but 

 the odd part of the case is that at the post-mortem examina- 

 tion there was positively nothing found that could explain the 

 patient's death. He was under the care of Mr Luke (1834). 



Comparatively recently I inspected the collection at St 

 Thomas's Hospital, which I found to be particularly rich 

 in entozoa of various kinds, especially tapeworms and hydafcids. 

 I encountered seventy-six preparations of internal parasites; 

 and of these, forty-two were of the hydatid kind, representing 

 at least thirty-three different cases. I say "at least/' because 

 it is often impossible to decide in instances where no history of 

 the specimens can be obtained. Thus, there are three similar 

 preparations of hydatids passed by the urethra, and, from their 

 appearance, I judge them to have come from one and the same 

 patient ; yet there is DO statement in the catalogue to that 

 effect. 



Of the thirty-three cases of hydatids represented in this 

 museum, I reckoned eighteen as referable to the liver, two to 

 the brain, two to the bones, two to the urinary organs, and one 

 to the lung, spleen, uterus, and soft parts of the thigh respec- 

 tively. There are also three that may be classed as peritoneal. 

 There is another choice example in which the disease cannot be 

 referred to any particular organ. I allude to Dr Peacock's case, 

 already published (' Pathological Transactions,' vol. xv), where 

 the lungs, liver, heart, spleen, and some other organs, were all 

 occupied by hydatid formations. As an instance of extensive 

 visceral infection by Echinococci in the human subject, I believe 

 this case to be unique. The brain hydatids are particularly 

 fine. In the specimen presented by Mr Boot, of Lincoln, the 

 hydatid, two inches in diameter, is lodged in the anterior horn 

 of the left ventricle. One of the peritoneal cases is remarkable 

 for the amount of forward displacement of the pelvic viscera, 

 caused by four or more hydatids, each of them nearly as large 

 as a cricket-ball. Amongst the abdominal cases I have included 

 a recent preparation, to which Mr Stewart has called my 

 attention. The hydatid in question, of the size of a large 

 lemon, existed near the fund us of the bladder, its walls being 

 one third of an inch in thickness, and forming an unusually 

 firm tumour. Of all the fine specimens of hydatids in the col- 

 lection, however, none have struck me so much as those affect- 



