22G TAENIA SOLIUM. 



middle joints quadrangular, the others oblong ; mar- 

 ginal pores sometimes on one side, sometimes on the 

 other. 



Ttsniasolium; Sysl.Nat. Gmelin, p. 3962. Goeze,Eingetv. 1.269,1.21, f. 1,7, 9, 12. 

 Trans, of Lin. Soc. ii. p. 247. T. cucurbitina; Pallas, Elench. Zoophyl. 

 p. 405. T. osculis nmrg-inalibus; Hoop. Lon. Med. Soc. v. p. 257- Der 

 Kurbisbaudwurni ; Balsch, Bandiuurmer, s. 117, f. 1,0,9, &c. Rudol Entoz. 

 p. 162, 522. 



This species is distinguished from the preceding by the more 

 irregular form and structure of its articulations, which are transverse, 

 oval, rhomboidal, or somewhat quadrangular, wrinkled transversely, 

 and having the marginal pores placed sometimes on one side, 

 sometimes on the other. The mouth is situated on the anterior 

 part of the head ; it is a small orifice, and when viewed with a 

 microscope exhibits a projecting margin, surrounding an excava- 

 tion of a striated appearance. On the head there are four orifices, 

 which are supposed to be suckers, by which the worm adheres so 

 closely to the coats of the intestines that it resists the most violent 

 medicines. On the margin of each joint is situated one, rarely 

 two, small openings or pores, on one side only, or on the opposite 

 side of each succeeding joint throughout the whole length of the 

 animal. The alimentary canal commences at the mouth by a 

 simple tube, that divides into two branches near the basis of the 

 proboscis, which proceed near the margin of the worm to the 

 other extremity. Each joint is composed internally of two distinct 

 sets of vessels — the alimentary canal and the ovaria ; the ovaria, 

 which contains the eggs, are generally tilled with an opaque whitish 

 fluid, resembling chyle.* These worms are supposed to be 

 hermaphrodite ; but the sexual organs have not been observed. 

 This, like the Bothriocephalus, is much more frequent amon°- 

 adults than in children, and is the species most common in 

 Britain. It occupies the small intestines, particularly of females, 

 and feeds on the chyle. It may be voided in lengths of several 

 yards, or in numerous fragments or detached joints, which, from 

 resembling gourd seeds, are by the common people called gourd- 



* See Rhind's Treatiseon the Nature, and Cure of Intestinal Worms, p. 73. 



