360 BNTOZOA. 



course. The straight vagina also passes beneath the bands of the 

 intestine, in continuation of the course followed by the oviduct, and 

 opens at the ventral surface near the mouth. We have, in vain, 

 looked for a nervous system. The nerve -cord seen by Otto was 

 very probably that portion of the genital tube which is fixed by the 

 intestinal bands, and these same bands doubtless constitute the 

 secondary nerve-filaments ; but the most superficial examuiation 

 suffices to show the independent character of these fibres, and of 

 the cord which they thus connect to the parietes. The copulation 

 is probably rather prolonged, because Drelincourt has found two 

 worms sexually united in the intestine of the dog." Davaine, 

 afterwards, questions the validity of the statement made by Wedel 

 as to the viviparous character of this worm. As the enunciation of 

 this opinion dates so far back as the year 1675, it seems a little 

 strange that no one should have distinctly confirmed or refuted 

 Wedel' s remark that the body of the female " is fiUed with a mul- 

 titude of living embryos (vermicules)." 



As regards the injurious symptoms produced by the Eustrongy- 

 lus gigas in the human subject, all I need say is that the general 

 disturbance of the system exhibits very much the same character as 

 that which ordinarily arises fii-om abscess and degeneration of one of 

 the kidneys. As, however, the symptoms might also be mistaken 

 for renal calculus, the possibility of finding the characteristic eggs 

 or embryos in the urine forms a diagnostic consideration which 

 should not be overlooked. In cases where the worm is found im- 

 mersed in a quantity of sanguineous purulent matter, the parasite, 

 according to Chabert, loses much of its reddish hue ; the latter 

 character, indeed, as Kiichenmeister has suggested, is rather eva- 

 nescent, and differs very httle from what has been observed in 

 other large Ascarides. I may also remark, that the bright red hue 

 of Sderostoma syngamus is not due to any colouring of the skin, 

 but is owing to the presence of a quantity of bright, sanguineous- 

 looking fluid, occupying the general cavity of the body. In the 

 last-named species, in Ascaris megalocephala, and in several other 



