Tlie Common Liver JEntozoon of Cattle. 117 



of Distoma hepaticum; but working parasitologists, who are 

 at the same time acquainted with the writings of the earlier 

 scientific observers, know very well that these titles are both 

 incorrect and inappropriate. The proper generic appellation of 

 this parasite is Fasciola, as first proposed by the illustrious 

 Linnaeus (1767), and subsequently adopted by F. Muller (1787), 

 Brera (1811), Eamdohr (1814), and others. Unfortunately, 

 however, Retzius (1786) and Zeder (1800) changed the generic 

 title without good cause, and the majority of writers, following 

 their authority, obstinately refuse to employ the original name, 

 although fair dealing with the posthumous reputation of its dis- 

 tinguished author, and a consideration of the distinctive types 

 of structure displayed by the two genera (Distoma and Fasciola), 

 alike demand the retention of the Linnsean title. In later times, 

 M. Emile Blanchard (1847), of Paris, has strongly advocated 

 the final adoption of the Linngean nomenclature, and the writer 

 himself has also from time to time (in 1854,-56,-58, and 1860) 

 demonstrated the propriety of rejecting the commonly received 

 synonym. Another distinguished French naturalist, namely, 

 Professor Moquin-Tandon, has also employed the term Fasciola, 

 but by placing in the genus several species not properly be- 

 longing to it, such as Distoma lanceolatum and _D. heterophyes, 

 he has unwittingly rendered " confusion worse confounded." 



The Fasciola hepatica is not only of frequent occurrence in 

 all varieties of grazing cattle, but has likewise been found in 

 the horse and ass by Daubenton ; also in the hare and rabbit by 

 the writer himself and others, in the squirrel by Tozzetti as 

 previously mentioned, in the great kangaroo (Macropus gigan- 

 teus) by Bremser and Diesing, in various antelopes and deer by 

 Pluskal, etc., and also in the beaver (Castor fiber) by Czermack. 

 Its occurrence in man has been recorded by Pallas, Bauhinus, 

 and Bidloo, doubtful instances being also given by Mehlis and 

 Duval. More recently, Professor Partridge of King's College 

 detected it in the human gall-bladder, particulars of the case 

 being described in the second edition of Dr. Budd's well-known 

 treatise on " Diseases of the Liver." Giesker of Zurich men- 

 tions an undoubted example where 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, Devon, 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 these 

 entozoa are referable to the species under consideration. 



If attention be directed to the accompanying coloured plate, 

 it will be noticed that the central figure, copied from Blanchard, 

 exhibits the ventral surface of the Fasciola hejpatica; and, as 



VOL. i. — NO. II. K 



