PART III.] Instances of the Hcematozoon occurring in Lower Animals. 527 



of the scrotum) a few days before I saw him, and another tapping being resorted to, the 

 fluid then removed was sent to me for examination by Dr. Mackenzie. It presented a 

 purulent appearance, but had no offensive odour. Microscopically it consisted of broken- 

 down granular matter, with molecules of fat. The sediment (removed by means of a 

 pipette) contained several excellent samples of the Filaria sanguinis. Next morning 

 the scrotum, which was now inflamed and very painful, was again pierced with a trocar 

 and about eight ounces of a sanguineous fluid extracted. This fluid was also examined 

 microscopically and found to consist chiefly of tolerably well-preserved red corpuscles, with 

 an abundance of colourless granular cells. In addition to this every slide of the sedi- 

 ment contained some half-dozen specimens of the Filaria — presenting the usual measure- 

 ments and anatomical appearances. 



This case presents several points in common with the one recorded immediately 

 before it — enlarged scrotum, together with hydrocele or haematocele ; but the first case 

 cited was an enlarged scrotum of very long standing, and eventually associated, for 

 about a fortnight, with Chyluria ; whereas the other case had been of short duration, 

 and, hitherto, had not become complicated with Chyluria. In another case, recorded 

 on a previous page (509), it will be noticed that Chyluria preceded the scrotal 

 affection. 



Although feeling convinced that Chyluria and other morbid phenomena are 

 induced by the presence of these microscopic Filari;© in the circulation, still, unless it 

 can be shown that they may have a prolonged existence in this condition, it will 

 be difficult to reconcile this opinion with the fact that the malady so frequently 

 recurs in the same individual. It seems unlikely that the same person should 

 become re-infected with Hsematozoa several times, and especially that re-infection 

 should occur after years of residence in England, where, probably, this particular 

 Filaria is not indigenous. 



Not having been able to watch the progress of isolated cases for a sufficiently long 

 period to judge whether or not all the Hsematozoa in the system escape during a 

 single attack of Chyluria (the period of their existence in the stage in which they 

 are found in the blood having expired), nor having succeeded in prolonging their 

 existence by artificial cultivation, in serum, moist sand or saliva, beyond a period of 

 three days, it will be necessary for me to refer briefly to a few of the recorded 

 instances of Hsematozoa occurring in lower animals, so as to fill up the gap in the 

 chain of evidence as far as possible. 



Foremost among the recorded particulars concerning Hsematozoa are those of 

 MM. Grube and Delafond, which were presented in their "M^moire" to the PVench 

 Academy of Science,* These gentlemen, during a period of nine years, made obser- 

 vations on 29 dogs, in whose blood on an average 55,000 microscopic worms were 

 estimated to exist. The diameter of these was somewhat less than that of a red- 



• " Metnoiie sur le ver filaire qui vit dans le sang du chien domestique." Comptes Mendus. 

 T. XXXIV, p. 9. 



