EXTRACTS AND ABSTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 147 



motion produced by cilia, and simulate Planaria ; in this condition they 

 may also be found within the Polyps, and it was remarked in the exam- 

 ples under observation, that every two were enveloped in a sort of case. 

 Several Polyps contained as many as six intestinal worms around the 

 canal. 



Rathke on Actinia plumosa. Milk-white mucoid filaments were ob- 

 served to pass out of the tegumentary pores, which glistened, moved 

 sometimes for a long period in a circle, and contained crystals and gra- 

 nular mucus. 



Kobelt on Trichina spiralis. This parasite was found in all the trans- 

 versely striated muscles, except of the heart and the small muscles of 

 the ear, in a dropsical man of weak intellect, and of seventy-three years 

 of age. None were found in other organs. Generally each cyst con- 

 tained one worm, more rarely two, and very seldom three, and but 

 rarely they possessed none. Bischoff submitted the worm to microsco- 

 pic examination ; according to him it lies always in a double cyst. The 

 external one is of a citron shape, the internal is oval and does not pro- 

 ceed into the poles or ends of the external covering. In other respects 

 the coverings are close together. The poles of the outer cyst, which 

 is g^th of an inch long, and -^jth broad, are filled with small dark gra- 

 nules possessing a particular motion when free. The inner cyst mea- 

 sures yyth of an inch, and contains a more or less granular mucoid 

 fluid, which is sometimes clear at others not ; in the latter case the 

 worm cannot be observed. The walls of both cysts are composed of a 

 firm homogenous slightly granular texture. The worm lies rolled up 

 in a spiral manner, is from aVth to -^th of an inch long, and from TTo tn 

 to -g-^th broad, it continues alive very long, even in decomposing mus- 

 cles. In the cyst it remains quiet, but out of it, in water it unrolls and 

 rolls itself up again. An oral and caudal aperture were not to be seen. 

 The tubular intestine appears to commence at the blunter or head-like 

 extremity with a narrow oesophagus, in the larger portion of the body 

 to occupy the whole space and have constrictions at intervals, whilst 

 inferiorly it is more tubular and runs in a zigzag direction. It contains 

 a granular mass, and moves rythmically backwards and forwards. Often 

 a small dark spot is observed at the interior portion of the body, this 

 which is granular is the ovarium. Sometimes after pressure a tube is 

 discernable which perhaps is an oviduct. In the middle of the body 

 runs a longitudinal stripe, either a vessel or a nerve. The following 

 characters of the genus and species is given by the author : 



Trichina. Animal pellucidum, filiforme, utrinque, postice magis, quam 

 antrorsum adtenuatum ; ore et ano discrete dubis, tubo intestinali et 

 ovario instructum. In vescia duplici externa dura et elastica contenens 

 alteram, in qua entozoon plerumque solitarium. 



T. Spiralis T. minutissima spiraliter, raro flexuose incurva, capite 

 obtusa, collo nudo, cauda adtenuata, obtusa. Vesica externa elliptica, 

 extremitatibus plerumque adtenuatis interna ovalis. 



[In our next number will be found some critical remarks of Valentin 

 upon the above.] 



