150 BNTOZOA. 



the Fasciola had lodged in the sole of a woman's foot, whilst a 

 similar case came under the observation of Mr. Fox of Topsham, 

 Devonshire, the entozoon being located beneath the skin, about three 

 inches behind the ear. Mr. Harris of Liverpool has likewise related 

 an example where six or seven flukes had apparently penetrated the 

 scalp of a little child, and there is every reason to believe that 

 all of them were referable to the species under consideration. 

 These cases, and others, will be again alluded to subsequently.* 



Descriptive Anatomy. — If an adult specimen of fall size be 

 selected for examination, the surface of the body will appear, to the 

 naked eye, smooth throughout, but if a pocket lens be employed, the 

 skin will be seen covered with numerous little processes or spines. 

 These spines are broad at the base, and pointed at the apex; they mea- 

 sure 4 of an inch in length, and m of an inch in breadth. They resist 

 the action of the ordinary acid and alkaline reagents, and are che- 

 mically composed of chitine. If the> skin to which they are attached 

 be gently raised by means of the forceps it will be foimd to consist 

 of two layers, an outer, thin, transparent cuticle (epidermis), and 

 an inner, dense, fibrous cutis vera. The spines are often very 

 loosely connected to the surface of the former, and in old specimens 

 they are sometimes almost entirely wanting ; at aU times, they are 

 more strongly developed anteriorly than in the caudal region. 

 This is the case with most of the other armed trematodes. 



* In the " Boston Medical and Surgical Journal," for the years 1852-53-54, Dr. J. 

 X. Ghabert has described several cases of Taenia, and it is averred that the tape- 

 worms were associated with numerous specimens of Distoma hepaticum. The passage of 

 distomes by patients duriag life is even regarded by Dr. Ghabert as indicative of the 

 presence of Tccnia within the intestines. Surely Dr. Ghabert must be mistaken. Are 

 not these so-caUed distomes the well-known proglottides f Not wishing to doubt Dr. 

 Ghabert's statements, but, on the other hand, desirous of verifying the accuracy of the 

 facts placed on record, I wrote (March 22nd, 1864) to Dr. Ghabert (at his residence, 

 431^, Grand Street, New York, U.S.) to request the favour of the possession of one of 

 the specimens. Up to the present time, however (June, 1864), I have not been fortunate 

 enough to receive a reply. In the " Gase of Tsenia" in a boy four and a half years old, 

 given in the 49th vol. of the Journal, Dr. Ghabert writes as follows : — " In consequence 

 of his passing the Distoma hepaticum, I concluded he must be aflQicted with TEenia." 

 Further on it is added, that the administration of an astringent injection " caused the dis- 

 charge of innumerable small worms (Distoma hepaticum,)." Gan anything be mofe decisive 

 than this ? No helminthologist, past or present, ever recorded such a case. — T. S. G. 



