DISTOMA BUSKII. 437 



The prejudice of the mother in believing the entozoa came from the 

 child's head is such as to require great caution in receiving her state- 

 ments. The above particulars I have obtained chiefly from the daughter, 

 who is rather more trustworthy. 



I ought, perhaps, to apologise for troubling you with the above detail, 

 fearing that the interest of the case is such as not to justify engaging 

 your valuable time and attention. 



Permit me to repeat my best thanks for your prompt and generous 

 consideration of the case. 



I remain, yours truly and respectfully, 



J. Penn Habeis. 

 Professor Owen, 

 &c. &c. 



The following case, also related by Dr. Budd in the work 

 above mentioned, appears to have presented a species of Distoma 

 hitherto unique : 



" In the winter of 1843 fourteen flukes were found by Mr. Busk in the 

 duodenum of a Lascar who died in the Seamen's Hospital. There were 

 none in the gall-bladder or gall-ducts. These flukes were much thicker 

 and larger than those of the sheep, being from an inch and a half to near 

 three inches in length. They resembled the Distoma hepaticum in shape, 

 but were like the Distoma lanceolatum in structure ; the double alimentary 

 canal, as in the latter variety, being not branched, and the entire space 

 between it towards the latter part of the body being occupied by a 

 branched uterine tube." 



Two specimens of this fluke are now in the Museum of King's 

 College, and I have also one in my possession, presented me by 

 Mr. Busk. This fluke differs from all the other species found in 

 the human body, in its large size. It is not improbable that the 

 ordinary habitat of this species is some of the lower animals 

 inhabiting warmer climates, and that is was introduced into the 

 system of the Lascar in the same way as Distoma hepaticum in 

 other cases. In the absence of any other distinguishing name 

 for this species, 1 have called it, after the name of its discoverer, 

 Distoma Buskii. 



