TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION D, 409 
different lengths of time, and both the water and the nodule were examined 
thereafter for the presence of larve. 
The earlier experiments were not very successful, but they showed that a 
few larve could make their escape from the nodule into the water. Later 
experiments, however, showed that the larvae could emerge through the worm 
capsule in large numbers, and fairly continuously for some time after the death 
of their host. 
The effect of acid and alkali was tried, but they did not appear to stimulate 
the emergence of the larve from the nodules. Increase of temperature also 
was not found favourable. 
All the nodules used were carefully examined both before and after the 
experiments to ensure that no tear or rupture was present in the capsule. 
Damaged nodules were rejected. 
In further experiments of the same nature certain nodules were fixed after 
varying periods of immersion in water, and thereafter cut into serial sections. 
In most of the nodules larve were found in considerable numbers in the wall 
of the capsule. Usually they were uniformly distributed in one or more layers, 
corresponding to the denser strata of the capsule. The impression was received 
that the water had some definite effect upon the worm mass inside the nodule, 
stimulating the larve to make their escape through the capsule. This effect 
was not usually produced until after several hours’ immersion. 
It is worthy of note that the adult worms were found to live for more than 
two days after removal from this host, and that living larve continued to 
escape from the capsule for at least three days. Attempts to keep the larve 
alive in water were not successful, as they did not survive for more than forty- 
eight hours at room temperature. 
The results of these experiments go to show that Onchocerca larve can and 
do make their escape through the capsule of the worm nodule, usually in small 
numbers, but at times or in some cases in comparatively large numbers. These 
results do not necessarily support the theory of water-borne infection, but they 
show that, even if the infection be insect-borne, it is not necessary to suppose, 
as has been done, that at some period of its life the worm sheds its larve into 
the blood stream. The numbers of larve escaping from the nodules are sufi- 
cient to ensure a moderate chance of infection in any biting ‘insect. The fact 
that the larve may be induced to penetrate the unbroken skin by the applica- 
tion of water may be merely an accident, but it shows that the larve find 
their way very close to the surface, and may therefore be very readily ingested 
by any biting insects. 
3. Jot Discussion with Sections C, HE, and K on Past and Present 
Relations of Antarctica in their Biological, Geographical, and 
Geological Aspects. 
Sir Douctas Mawson: I propose to deal particularly with recent geographi- 
eal advances in Antarctica and to lay special stress upon the work which has 
been performed by the Australasian Expedition. We are now all satisfied that 
there is a great continent at the southern extremity of the world. Possibly, 
were the ice to be melted, there would be, not one large land unit, but several. 
We feel sure, however, that there would be at least one large elevated piece of 
land in the Australian Quadrant,! but there are many who hold that there 
would be at least a second piece represented by the land south of America, 
sometimes called West Antarctica. It is, indeed, probable that this latter mass 
would be found to be split up into a number of small isolated fragments. 
South Victoria Land and the Ross Sea Region have been explored or touched 
upon by eight expeditions, of which several, particularly those of Scott, Shackle- 
ton, and Amundsen, have accomplished important land work. In Victoria 
1 For convenience the Antarctic Regions may be considered as divided into 
four Quadrants, commencing from the meridian of Greenwich, and each named 
after the lands or seas to the north: hence, African Quadrant, Australian 
Quadrant, Pacific Quadrant, and American Quadrant. 
