50 Oxyuris vermicularis 



was then scraped oS, and left in the salt solution, while the appendix 

 was removed. The Petri dish with the saline and mucous scrapings was 

 examined microscopically imder a low power, and immature females 

 and males were " spotted," and counted as they were removed. In 

 many cases, to make more certain, we examined the contents of the 

 Petri dish, part by part in a watch glass. 



The method recommended by Brumpt (1910) of placing the mucous 

 scrapings between two glass plates, we did not find very satisfactory, 

 as it was liable to crush the worms, and to introduce errors in counting. 

 It is, however, an excellent method for determining the fact of the 

 presence of worms in the appendix. 



The material was obtained from appendicectomies performed at the 

 Royal Infirmary, and in two cases from the Royal Hospital for Sick 

 Children. All types of appendicitis were examined, but normal appen- 

 dices removed during the course of other operations, such as laparatomies, 

 although investigated, have not been used in compiling the results. In 

 no case did we find worm infection in a healthy appendix. 



Results of Investigation. 



The types of appendicitis studied were classified under five groups, 

 special attention being given to the " recurrent " type, as this was found 

 to show the highest percentage of infected appendices. 



The term " recurrent appendicitis " has been applied to that type 

 which has a history of a year's duration or more, and in which there 

 have been several more or less severe attacks of appendicitis at varying 

 intervals. 



The number of cases in each group was as follows : 



Out of these cases, 17 were found to harbour 0. vermicularis, while 

 in no case were trichocephalids or other worm parasites found. The 

 ova of Oxyuris were found in two of these cases, but as in each there 

 was also a ruptured mature female worm, no stress can be laid on this 

 fact. The ova of T. trichiurus, or of other nematodes, were not seen. 



