DIPLOSOMA CRENATUM. 409 



as constituting a distinct species of entozoon. The bottle, more- 

 over, contains some small rounded granular bodies, wliich. I have 

 little doubt are piscine ova, like those discovered by Schneider in 

 the contents of the third bottle which he examined. 



3. DiPLOSOMA CRENATUM. 



D. crenata, Farre; Beale. 



Spiroptera hominis (in part), Rudolphi. 



No one who takes the trouble to examine the two figures given 

 in the plate accompanying Lawrence's original paper will fail to 

 perceive that two very different bodies are there represented. Dr. 

 Arthur Farre long ago noticed this remarkable difference, and, 

 therefore, not unnaturally, arrived at the conclusion that the worm- 

 like bodies, in question, were referable to two different species of 

 Entozoa. With the view of throwing further hght upon the subject 

 he carefully, and with the aid of the microscope, examined the 

 larger of the two worm-like bodies, and subsequently published the 

 results of his inquiries. The smaller worm he allowed to retain 

 the title of Spiroptera hominis, whilst to the larger, double, worm-like 

 body, he applied the new generic and specific title of Biplosoma cre- 

 nata. However unpleasant it may be to differ fi'om an authority 

 whom all so much respect, truth compels me to state that the so- 

 called Diplosoma is no worm at all. In this opinion, moreover, I 

 find myself supported by Leuckart, who, when he was over here, in 

 1862, cursorily examined the specimens at the College of Surgeons' 

 Museum, and afterwards told me that he agreed with me in the 

 opinion which I then entertained. I have, too, through the kind- 

 ness of Dr. Farre, had an opportunity of studying his recent 

 brochure, the elaborate contents of which, however, failed to con- 

 vince me that his Diplosoma crenata was a genuine parasite. Dr, 

 Beale, nevertheless, in his able little treatise on "Urine and 

 Urinary Deposits" gives to Dr. Farre's opinions the most unquali- 



GG G 



