540 Pathological Significance of Nematode Hcsmatozoa. [part hi. 



notes of twenty-seven such examinations, and find it recorded that the blood of ten 

 of these dogs was found to be invaded to a greater or less extent by these 

 embryo-worms. 



Before attempting to arrive at any conclusion as to the probable or possible 

 source of these embryos, it will be advisable to describe briefly the pathological 

 conditions which usually accompany their presence. These, as far as may be inferred 

 from very careful dissections of the twenty-seven dogs above referred to, may be 

 described as follows : — 



1. The most striking feature is the existence of fibrous-looking tumours, varying 



from the size of a pea to that of a filbert or walnut, along the walls 



of the thoracic aorta and oesophagus, both tubes being afiected, or only 

 one. (Plate XXXVIII, Fig. 8.) 



2. Minute nodules in the substance of the walls of the thoracic aorta, from 



the size of duck shot to that of split peas. They can be felt as tubercles, 

 and usually project somewhat on the outer surface of the vessel ; a 

 depression or slight extravasation of blood, corresponding to the nodule, 

 being visible on the inner surface of the aorta (Plate XXXIX, Figs. 9, 10), 

 and frequently a slight abrasion of the lining membrane. 



3. A pitted or sacculated appearance of various portions of the interior of the 



thoracic aorta with thinning of its walls at some parts ; the lining 

 membrane roughened at the spots affected ; the roughening, however, is 

 not of an atheromatous character, but due to the membrane being thrown 

 into delicate rugae, as if from contraction of the middle and outer coat. 



4. Enlargement and softening of some glandular body adjoining the vessels at 



the base of the heart. 



Within the above four headings is comprehended everything abnormal that I 

 have been able to detect, which seemed to imply any connection with the state of 

 the blood under consideration. 



^ (1) — As regards the first point referred to, the tumours manifest a somewhat 

 firm, fibrous texture, and when cut into are found to contain one to six or more 

 mature nematode worms, of a pinkish, sanguinolent tint, and varying in size from one 

 inch to three and a half inches in length. These on closer examination prove to be 

 the male and female of the same parasite: the male worm being from one to two 

 inches long, and ^V*-^ '^^ Atb of an inch in diameter at the widest part; and the 

 female from two to three and a half inches long with a transverse measurement of 

 from ^Vth to ^-^i^ of an inch. (Plate XXXVIII, Figs. 3, 4.) 



These parasites correspond more closely to the Filaria sanguinolenta (Eudolphi), 

 especially to the description of this species given by Schneider, than to any other 

 nematode with which I am acquainted, although in some respects they differ from 

 the descriptions given of any. 



It is however, with regajrd to the parts of the body in which these parasites are 



