1876.] Lewis and McConnell — O71 a Neto Parasite affecting Man. 183 



of the gut by means o£ tlie pale sucker-like sm-face on the inferior portion 

 of the body." On adding a solution of chloride of zinc to the specimens, 

 " it had" the writer continues, " the effect of bleaching their coats and 

 destroying the moist glistening appearance in which they formerly rejoiced." 

 The coats of specimens thus treated, it may be remarked, became eventually 

 grayish black. 



The specimens which had been preserved in the Medical College 

 Museum, and which formed the basis of the other series of observations 

 (by J. r. P. McConnell), were, strange to say, obtained from the intes- 

 tines of a man who was also stated to have died of cholera. This of course, 

 might have been a coincidence merely, or it might be that owing to the 

 irritation set up on the mucous surface of the intestinal canal by the para- 

 site cholera-like symptoms may have become developed in addition, possibly, 

 to some other fatal form of disease in both cases. With regard to the first 

 case it may be mentioned that cholera was very prevalent at the time at 

 Gowhatty, but that no such parasites were found in other cases. 



The history of the specimens forming the second series of observations, 

 and which were lodged in the Museum, is thus briefly recorded in the Cata- 

 logue of the Medical College Museum : — 



" The ca3cum of a native prisoner who died from cholera in the Tir- 

 hoot gaol hospital, with a number of peculiar and, probably, hitherto unre- 

 cognized parasites, found alive in that part of the intestinal canal." " {Pre- 

 sented hy Dr. Simpson through Professor JE. Goodeve) .^' 



With reference to this preparation, the following very interesting par- 

 ticulars from the Annual Jail Report of Tirhoot for 1857 have been very 

 kindly placed at our disposal by the Surgeon- General, Indian Medical De- 

 partment. The prisoner, Singhesur Doradh, aged 30, was attacked with 

 cholera on the 13th and died on the 14th July 1857. " Had not been in 

 hospital previously, and was employed in cleaning the jail." 



The post-mortem examination was made three hours after death : — 

 *' Colon externally livid, contracted ; contains a little serous fluid with flakes 

 of mucus. Mucous membrane healthy except venous injection. In the 

 c£ecum and ascending colon numerous parasites like tadpoles, alive, adher- 

 ing to the mucous membrane by their mouths. The mucous membrane 

 marked with numerous red spots like leech-bites from these parasites. The 

 parasites found only in the csecum and ascending colon, none in the small 

 intestines." This description is by Dr. Simpson, who adds, " I have never 

 seen such parasites, and apparently they are unknown to the natives. 

 They are of a red colour, size of a tadpole, some young, others a]iparently 

 full grown, alive, adhering to mucous membrane, — head round, with circu- 

 lar open mouth which they had tlie power of dilating and contracting. 

 Body short and tapering to a blunt point." 



