TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. DEPT. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 579 



pine-woods, carbolic-acid inhalations, and by other suggested remedies, is also re- 

 ferred to as giving support to the hypothesis. 



2. BemarJcs on Filaria Sangiiinis Mominis. By Dr. Cobbold, F.B.S. 



The author gave a full account of the relations subsisting between 

 the larval microscopic filariaj occurring in man, the higher larval stages of the 

 same parasite occurring within the body of the mosquito, and the sexually mature 

 form, or Filaria Bancrofti. The development of the parasite, as made known by 

 the researches of Manson, were carefully described, and the phenomena of filarial 

 periodicity were explained by means of a series of large diagrams. The author 

 maintained, contrary to the views generally held, that the bloodsucking propen- 

 sities of the mosquito had more to do with the heating of the ova of the insect 

 itself than with any immediate purpose of self-nourishment. The provision for 

 tlie welfare of the filarise and their reproduction was thus, in a truly remarkable 

 manner, intimately bound up with the welfare of the insect. In the course of the 

 paper the author specially referred, not only to the brilliant results obtained by 

 MansoD, but also to the discoveries of Drs. Lewis, Myers, and Stephen Mackenzie. 



3. On the Destiny of the Filaria in the Blood. By Dr. P. Manson. 



In this paper (communicated by Dr. Cobbold), the author dealt with the ques- 

 tion of the fate of the embryo parasites which have not been directly removed from 

 the circulation by mosquitoes. lie asks : — ' Do they, after a brief life of a few 

 hours, die ? ' And again : ' Do they daily retire to some oi'gan, or set of vessels, to 

 await the recurrence of conditions that induce them to return to the circulation? 

 Dr. Manson had kept the larvte alive in the serum of blood for more than 100 

 hours. Dr. Myers has expressed an opinion that there is a daily dissolution of the 

 filariae, but Dr. Manson combats this view, and from his observations is led to 

 conclude that it is unreasonable to suppose that ' animalcules exhibiting such tena- 

 city of life outside the body should so. quickly die within it.' As bearing upon this 

 subject he also remarks : ' I do not recollect ever to have seen in freshly drawn 

 blood a dead filaria, at least one parasite whose death could not be easily accounted 

 for by accidental crushing under the glass cover.' • 



4. Note on the Early Development of Lacerta Muralis. 

 ByW. R. Weldon, B.A. 



' A fuller report of the author's latest researches appeared in the Custoina Gazette 

 for 1882. 



PP 2 



