1894,] The Parasitic Protozoa Found in Cancerous Diseases. 309 
cent cyst oval in shape [see Fig. 1, a] enclosing a quantity of 
very granular protoplasm which fills the whole body. Very 
x 
f 
IESE 
d 
Fig.2—Stages in Life History of Coccidium oviforme. a,b. Formation of 
crescentic spores within the daughter spherules external to the host (after 
Balbiani); ¢, ¢, sporulation within the host, division of the spores into: 
numerous crescentic segments. (After photographs by Pfeiffer x 1,000.) 
From ‘Morton Lectures,’ by James Galloway, A. M.; M. D. Aberdeen- 
British Medical Journal. Feb. 4th, 1893. 7 
soon after expulsion, and often while within the host, the pro- 
toplasmic contents contract [Fig. 1, 6] and form a sphere lying 
free within the cell wall. Under suitable circumstances, this: 
ball of protoplasm sends out projections and at length divides 
into four distinct smaller spherules [Fig. 1, ¢.]” These four 
spherules are “ transformed! into four spores provided with a 
very resistant external covering. Each spore encloses two 
falciform and very delicate embryos, [Fig. 2.] which give birth 
to new parasites, and thus engender the terrible disease when 
swallowed in polluted food. The sporiferous coccidia pene- 
trate into the digestive canal of rabbits, and the envelope of 
the spore protects the falciform embryos against the action of 
the gastric juice. So strong is the protecting capsule that the 
spores can live for at least six months outside the body [Gallo- 
way]. The epithelial cells of the small intestine and of the 
biliary ducts are the seat of the internal activity of the para- 
site, on reaching which a “new cycle of intense activity is ob- 
served. The falciform young take ona rounded shape, and 
probably acquire the power of locomotion. Most of the naked 
amceboid forms of the organism divide into small crescentic 
| Carcinomata and Coccidia, Elias Metschnikoff, M. D. Chef de Service, Institut 
Tau Revue Générale des Sciences Pures et Appliquées. Brit. Medical Journal. 
Dec. 10th, 1899. 
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