OUE DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 89 



cattle, as observed in the Punjab by Dr. Fleming and 

 others. 



The symptoms of the disease are extremely variable, 

 some of the dogs dying suddenly in a fit, whilst others 

 linger and betray evidences of excruciating pain. As to 

 treatment, it is obvious that nothing can be done when 

 the parasites have once got possession of so vital an 

 organ as the heart. Nevertheless, further researches 

 may enable us to suggest prophylatic measures, by which 

 the epizootic may be checked. There is one important 

 point that ought not to remain long unverified. We 

 want to know for certain whether the blood of these dogs 

 contains free embryonic filarise, and whether such 

 immature worms, if found, correspond or not with the em- 

 bryos found in the oviducts of the full-grown worms. It 

 is probable that they do, for Dr. Krabbe, in his admirable 

 resume already referred to, states that the worm repro- 

 duces viviparously, and that the young are carried along 

 in the circulation. This statement is probably based on 

 Dr. Leidy's observations ; and its truth is further borne 

 out by the facts described by Mr. Welch, as well as by 

 my own subsequent and repeated examinations, the 

 results of which I have not yet published in detail. 

 According to Assistant-Professor Welch, the embryos 

 vary very much in size, ranging from the 140th to the 

 90th of an inch in length ; whilst their breadth never 

 exceeds the J^,", being sometimes as little as the 4 JJ )0 // . The 

 largest eggs Mr. Welch describes as giving a length 

 of ooo " ) but, on referring to my note-book, I find I have 

 marked one as being ~". Some of the ova are very much 

 smaller. I mention these few scientific details because 

 they are of some importance in reference to the question of 

 the specific identity of the nematode hasmatozoa found in 



