304 PATCASTTES OF ANIMALS 



the ravages of this entozoon in the dogs of China. I have 



since received numerous vermini- 

 ferous hearts both from China and 

 Japan, and also some heart-worms 

 from Charleston, U. S , sent by Mr 

 M'Innes. In a recent communica- 

 tion, Dr Manson has spoken of this 

 worm as if it were comparatively 

 harmless, but all the evidence I 

 long ago received through the late 

 Mr Swinhoe, formerly H. B. M. 

 .-niaria im^iiu Tail of male. Consul at Amoy, through Mr Dare's 



Enlarged. Original. . , i -r^ ^ , i i 



letters enclosing Dr Urton s valu- 

 able observations (addressed to the editor of the ' Field'), 

 through the lost MS. above alluded to, through Dr Lamprey's 

 statements, and through many other sources, lead to the 

 very opposite conclusion. No doubt the canine hosts do for a 

 time appear to be little inconvenienced by their nematode 

 guests, but sooner or later the most distressing symptoms set 

 in. As in Hoysted's case (quoted below) the convulsive spasms 

 may occasion death in a few minutes, but frequently they last 

 for hours or days, with more or less prolonged intervals of relief 

 before the final struggle. 



Some other filariform nematodes have been imperfectly 

 described. Of these, Gescheidt's Filaria oculi canini (F. iris- 

 pinulosa, Diesing) was probably a sexually-immature worm, and 

 the same may be said of the encysted worms found by Mr 

 Mather in the mucous coat of the intestines and in the liver 

 ducts and acini (Filaria hepatica, Cobbold). Of more interest 

 is Leisering's haBmatozoon (Strongylus sululatus). These 

 minute worms occupy the veins, the largest females not 

 exceeding '' in length. They are viviparous, and thus 

 form another source of embryonic haematozoa. A single drop 

 of infected venous blood commonly carries from four to six 

 mature worms. In this place may be mentioned Dr Osier's 

 Strongylus canis bronchialis. The largest males measure J" and 

 the females fully \" . In the worms sent to me by Prof. Osier 

 I saw no evidence of strongyloid structure, and in his description 

 he avoids all mention of the presence of any caudal hood in 

 the male. I regard the worms as Filariae (F. Osleri, Cobbold). 

 Very great interest attaches to them from the fact that they 

 produce a destructive canine epizooty, resembling the ordinary 



