DISTOMUM OPHTHALMOBIUM. 287 



especially the chlorosis. Griesinger therefore prescribes calomel 

 or turpentine as a remedy, the latter especially, because it was 

 absorbed without alteration from the intestine, and found again in 

 the urine passed from the form of drops. The use of onions, 

 garlic, &c, would, perhaps, also be efficacious. 



Possibly nothing but great hygienic regulations, which are 

 still a pium desiderium, will lead to a rational prophylaxis in 

 these cases. 



The discoveries here detailed remind us that without helmin- 

 thological knowledge the study of the diseases of tropical and. 

 warm climates, cannot be successfully entered upon. We may 

 still look for many new discoveries in this department. 



5. Distomum ophthalmobium (Diesing). 



PI. IV, figs. 13, 14, 15. 



Corpus ovato-lanceolatum depressum, variabile. Collum breve 

 subcylindricum. Os terminate orbicutare. Acetabulum ore i majus, 

 subcentrale apertura circulari. Longitud. \ — 1 {" ; latitud. £"', 



(Diesing.) 



" In the eye of a child five months old, born with cataracta 

 lenticularis cum partiali capsules suffusione, which died from 

 the well-known atrophy of infants under Von Amnion's treat- 

 ment, Gescheidt found four specimens of Distoma between the 

 lens and its capsule. Even with the naked eye these animals 

 were recognisable as small turbid spots on the anterior wall of 

 the lens. The little animals, \ — ~" in length, were enveloped 

 by an opaque, veil-like, white mass, and presented themselves 

 in various positions. One specimen, which lay free and motion- 

 less, was rather elongated, with the sucking disc turned towards 

 the lower surface of the wall of the capsule. Two others had the 

 caudal portion contracted, and a vial-like form, and still exhibited 

 slight indications of vitality on dissection thirty-six hours after- 

 wards. Thus a cruciform figure was formed, with obtuse, rounded 

 angles, where the head and tail were elongated, whilst the body was 

 contracted and increased in its breadth. The fourth specimen 

 lay extended on its side ; it was white, lanceolate, and motion- 

 less. The anterior sucking disc was about one third smaller 

 than the central one, semicircular, with scarcely perceptible ridge- 



