I 



or THE NEMATOIDS, PAEASHTC AND FEEE. 588 



us been able to ascertain what are their exact connexions, or whether they are provided 

 with excretory canals. I have seen similar structures in two or three species of Strongyli 

 and in Heterakis acuminata, whilst they have also been met with, as well as figured, 

 by Eberth, in Oxyuris amlngna and Heterakis vesicidaris. In these various parasitic 

 species their number and arrangement is different, though their essential nature is the 

 same; they present the appearance of granular nucleated bodies variously arranged 

 around the termination of the intestine, and connected with it by pedicles, which very 

 probably are excretory ducts. 



Another description of gland exists in connexion with the vagina in the females of 

 certain species of free Nematoids, which have been called "vaginal glands." In histo- 

 logical structure and appearance they are very similar to the anal glands just described. 

 They are stalked, often pyriform in shape, having finely granular contents, and may or 

 may not show the same bright central body or nucleus. They are connected with the 

 vagina close to its external aperture. Eberth has discovered four such bodies in his 

 Enoplus tuberculatus*, and two in his Enoplus gracilis, whilst in Enoplus megopihalmus, 

 where he has also met with them, they present a different character, and consist of two 

 pear-shaped masses seemingly composed of an aggregation of nucleif . I have met with 

 two equal, stalked, pear-shaped glands in Symplocostoma vivipara, one anterior and the 

 other posterior ; a similar position of two unequal glands in Tachyhodites velox ; and one 

 large posterior gland only in Sphcerolaimus hirsutus^. 



I am aware of only one species of parasitic Nematoid in which such organs are to be 

 met with, and this is in Heterakis vesicularis, in which Eberth has represented § three 

 stalked, pear-shaped, glandular bodies in connexion with the anterior wall of the vagina || . 



* Really Phanoderma tuberculatum. f Uiiters. fiber Nemat. Taf. ii. 24. 



X For figures see ' Monograph on Anguillulidae.' 



§ Wurzb. NaturwisBensch. Zeitsch. 1860, Erst. Bd. Taf. iii. 21. 



II Before dismissing the subject of the glandular and secretory organs of these animals, this seems a suitable 

 place for me to record some of the remarkable effects invariably produced upon myself whilst working at the 

 anatomy of Asearis mfyahceplidla from the Horse. Emanations from this animal had the most decided and 

 poisonous influence upon me, and this not only when the animal was in the fresh state, but after it had been 

 preserved in methylated spirit for two years, and even then macerated in a solution of chloride of lime for several 

 hours before it was submitted to examination. I first examined this species in the spring of 1863, when certain 

 strange effects were produced which I was enabled to trace absolutely to the fact of my working with this animal. 

 These were a greatly increased secretion from the Schneiderian membrane, with irritation of it, causing conti- 

 nuous sneezing, also irritation of the conjunctiva, with such a sense of itching about the eyelids and caruncula 

 lachrymalis as to make it extremely diflScult to abstain from rubbing them. When they were rubbed this 

 immediately gave rise to a swollen and puffed condition of the eyelids, swelling of the caruncula, and extreme 

 vascular injection of the conjunctiva, and if the rubbing was at aU persisted in, actual effusion of fluid would 

 take place under the conjunctiva, raising it from the subjacent sclerotic and cornea. A few minutes would suffice 

 to produce these serious effects upon the eyes, but after a little bathing with cold water, and rest in the recum- 

 bent position for a couple of hours, they would have again resumed their natural condition. At the same time 

 that these effects were produced upon the mucous membranes, the skin of the face and neck was also affected, so 

 as to cause a sensation of itching something similar to what exists in a mild attack of nettle-rash. If I continued 



