T^ENIA SAGINATA Goeze 



Material. Tasnia saginata may be obtained at almost 

 any hospital. It should be preserved in 2-4% formalin (avoid 

 alcoholic specimens as they become intransparent). Stain in 

 Grenadier's Alumcarmin for twenty-four hours. Decolorize for 

 a few seconds in water with hydrochloric acid, wash in water for 

 twenty-four hours. Press the proglottids gently between two 

 slides by tying the slides with a thread and place the slides into 

 50% alcohol for twenty-four hours. Transfer slides into 95% 

 alcohol for twenty-four hours, then into a jar with absolute 

 alcohol with desiccated copper sulphate for twenty-four hours; 

 hence into xylol for twenty-four hours. Cut the thread, separate 

 the slides and lifting the proglottid with a spatula transfer it for 

 twenty-four hours into a thin solution of xylol dammar. In- 

 close in thick xylol dammar. This method gives remark- 

 ably beautiful slides showing all organs. The proglottids with 

 uterus filled with eggs should be treated in the same manner 

 but without any stain. The scolex is too rare to be used for class 

 work. Dipylidium caninum ( = Taenia elliptica sive cucum- 

 erina) found in quantities in almost all dogs and cats may be 

 used for this purpose. Material preserved in sublimate is pref- 

 erable for cross-sections which may be stained in Bohmer's 

 or Delafield's haemotoxylin. In place of Ta?nia saginata T. 

 crassicollis, T. serrata or T. marginata may be used. 



Descriptive Part 



Tasnia saginata is a common human tapeworm. A full grown 

 specimen measures usually about eight metres in length although 

 specimens of only four metres and such of ten metres length are 



72 



