OUR DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 47 



and who are not unfrequently infested with Taenia 

 medio can ell at a. The most striking evidence, however, 

 testifying to an astonishing amount of tapeworm egg- 

 dispersion in the Punjab, is that which I have adduced 

 from Dr. Fleming's experiences, and the truth of his 

 statements has received ample verification from many- 

 independent sources. Scarcely less cogent, moreover, is the 

 evidence supplied by Dr. Oliver, who, also speaking of the 

 Punjab, remarks that " human filth was often to be seen 

 on the banks of the tank, and the microscopic examina- 

 tion of mud and stagnant water, taken from the margin, 

 exhibited tapeworm ova." This is the sort of practical 

 evidence which is fortunately wanting in England, because 

 the habits of our peasantry are more in harmony with 

 civilised life. 



Millions upon millions of the eggs of entozoa 

 must gain access to the Indian tanks ; and thus 

 it happens that, while some parasites' eggs are taken 

 up by cattle along with their green fodder, others 

 are ingested with their drink, others again being 

 actually swallowed with fsecal matter, eaten as food. 

 It matters little how the eggs are swallowed. 

 When once they are transferred to the true stomach, 

 the shells will after a brief space be dissolved ; the 

 contained six-hooked embryos will soon make their 

 escape ; and, finally, by boring their way through the 

 tissues, they will ultimately find a temporary resting- 

 place within the muscles of the calf, heifer, or ox, as the 

 case may be. Here, by metamorphosis, they will com- 

 plete the course of their larval development within the 

 flesh of the intermediary bearer ; for in this situation 

 it is that they await their subsequent passive and ultimate 

 transference to the human alimentary canal. 



