WORM-NESTS IN AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DUE TO 



FILARIA (ONCHOCERCA) GIBSON I. 



With Notes on Similar Structures in Camels. 



By J. Burton Cleland, m.d„ ch.M. (Syd.j, Principal Assistant 



Microbiologist, and T. Harvey Johnston, m.a., bs'c. (s y d.) 



Assistant Microbiologist. 



(From the Government Bureau of Microbiology, Sydney, 



New South Wales). 



[Read before the Royal Society of N. S. Wales, July 6, 1910.'] 



For the last thirty years at least, fibrous nodules, contain- 

 ing in their centres much coiled nematode worms, have 

 been known to be of frequent occurrence in the brisket 

 and subcutaneous tissues of cattle from various parts of 

 Australia. Though their presence has been often noted 

 by various observers, a full description of the worm itself 

 has never been published, owing to extreme difficulty in 

 extracting it from its fibrous bed. However, in 1892 and 1893 

 two papers appeared dealing with part of its anatomy and 

 with its pathological effects. Recently, we have had 

 opportunities of examining a large number of the fresh 

 nodules, and at last were fortunate enough to obtain those 

 parts of the worm which are essential for descriptive pur- 

 poses, with the result that the parasite appears to be one 

 new to science. The object of the present paper is to deal 

 with the worm-tumours themselves in all their aspects as 

 pathological products. In another communication the 

 parasite and its life-history will, as far as possible, be 

 described. 



Historical. -The first reference to these verminous 

 tumours of which we are aware, is one by Dr. William 



