14 



HA RD WJCKE' S S CIENCE- G SSI P. 



the use, as a prophylactic measure, of boiled and 

 filtered water. Others hold that the parasite finds its 

 way into the body through the skin of bathers. To 

 what, if any, extent is the mosquito to be regarded as 

 an infecting agent ? In this connection, too, does 

 food count as a factor? Both the pariah dog and 

 crow are foul feeders ; though it should be added 

 that in our hot tropical climate, they are both 

 bathers, and both drinkers of stagnant and other 

 possibly contaminated water. Moreover nematoid 

 helminths, as Lewis showed, have been found by 

 other observers in the blood of the carp, hawk, jack- 

 daw, jay, frog, seal, and whale. The dog seems, 

 however, to take the first place, and has been 

 observed to be thus affected in nearly all parts of the 

 world, but notably so in China, India, and Southern 

 Europe. Is the dog an infecting agent in this case, 

 as he is believed to be in the case of tape-worm ? 



It is satisfactory to be able to add that in man the 

 prognosis is favourable, even though the disease be 

 of some standing. Removal from the source of 

 infection is said to result in a spontaneous cure. As 

 remedies, inunctions of mercurial ointment, in con- 

 nection with hydrotherapy, and the injection of 

 certain parasiticides into the lymphatic ganglia, have 

 been recommended. A writer in Ceylon considers 

 that the administration of bisulphide of carbon gives 

 satisfactory results, owing, in his opinion, to the 

 sulphur ingredient, and its power to prevent the 

 multiplication of the worm in the body. 



On the other hand, Dr. Manson's views with 

 regard to the pathological significance of the Filarise, 

 which receive support from the observations of Dr. 

 Lewis and others, are opposed by Dr. Rake of 

 Trinidad, who failed to find Nematoids in cases of 

 elephantiasis and chyluria ; and by Dr. Sibthorpe, 

 who examined the blood of patients affected with 

 hard elephantiasis, and did not meet with Pilaris;. 

 The doctors evidently differ as to the pathogenetic 

 value of the worm ; but its existence as a parasite in 

 the blood of man has been proved, and it remains to 

 be ascertained definitely, how it gains a footing in 

 the body. Those who wish to prosecute the subject 

 further will derive valuable aid from Dr. Lewis's 

 papers republished in Part lit. of his " Physiological 

 and Pathological Researches" (1S8S), and also in 

 Dr. Sajou's "Annual of the Universal Medical 

 Sciences," Issue of 1S89, vol. i., F, page 13, and 

 vol. v., A, page 145 ; and the various papers therein 

 referred to. One cannot read up the subject without 

 being impressed with the value for diagnostic 

 purposes of a microscopical examination of the 

 blood. 



W. J. Simmons. 

 Calcutta. 



We commend to the notice of our natural history 

 book collectors, Messrs. Dulau's Catalogue of Zoo- 

 logical and Palreontological books, just issused. 



SILLOTH IN AUGUST. 

 By W. H. Youdale, F.R.M.S. 



HAVING read with great interest the two 

 articles by the Rev. Hilderic Friend, F.L.S., 

 on Silloth in April and June, 1SS9, (Scienxe-Gossip, 

 vol. xxv. pages 125 and 156), I was led to imagine 

 that some of your readers might be interested in 

 knowing what can be found in that apparently for- 

 saken-by-naturalists district in the month of August ; 

 perhaps, also, these articles may be the means ot 

 inducing some other botanists and naturalists to take 

 some interest in working up the flora and fauna of 

 this seemingly neglected and barren neighbourhood. 



It is needless to repeat the descriptions given by 

 the Rev. H. Friend of the sand-dunes, general 

 appearance, and situation of this charming little 

 sea-port and watering-place combined ; therefore I 

 will proceed to describe and enumerate the chief 

 objects, of interest to be found there, or likely to be 

 found there, during the month. 



My visit commenced on the nth and ended on 

 the 24th ; one or two days were very stormy, and 

 rain fell on most days — only two, I believe, were 

 exempt — so that, on the whole, the weather was 

 most unpropitious for insect-life, and I cannot in 

 consequence add anything worth recording to what 

 has already been given in the articles above referred 

 to. 



The plant-life, however, was a pleasant surprise, as 

 many as 1 16 varieties being found by my wife and 

 myself — sixty-one of which are not to be found in the 

 neighbourhood of my residence on the border of the 

 Lakes District. Some of the chief finds were, Aster 

 tripolium, (found near Skinburness), Convolvulus 

 septum, C. arvensis, Brassica monensis, Silent mari- 

 tima, Gnaphalium minimum, G. uliginosum, Rumex 

 crispus, Eryngium marilimum, Galium mollugo, 

 Chenopodium ficifolium, Medicago lupulina, Arte- 

 misea vulgaris, Atriplex angustifolia, Viola curtisii, 

 V. canina. Behind the sheds built near the docks I 

 found a solitary specimen of wild chicory (Cichorium 

 intybus), two or three specimens of Echium planta- 

 gineum, and large numbers of Eckium vulgare. A fine 

 Ranunculus hirsutus was considered a " good find," 

 on account of its rarity in the district. The round- 

 leaved mallow (Maha rotundifolia) is here in great 

 plenty, as is also jPasione monlana and the beautiful 

 hare's-foot trefoil, (Trifolium arvense). 



A walk to Skinburness proved most interesting, 

 and resulted in finding Geranium sanguineum in full 

 bloom and great profusion, the Burnet rose [Rosa 

 spinosissima) and its curious irregular red galls, caused 

 by Rhodites spinosissima, were most entertaining, a 

 single specimen of corn marigold - (C. segetuni), and 

 the following in plenty : Sedum anglicum, Spergula 

 arvensis, Armeria maritima, Cakile maritima, Are- 

 naria peploides (on the sands), Sagina maritima, 



