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Prof. J. W. W. Stephens. 



give the parasite most peculiar fantastic shapes like that of an irregular 

 web or mesh. 



2. The cytoplasm is always scanty, i.e. the individual amoeboid processes 

 are delicate or thin, and the parasite has but little bulk, or density. While 

 forms resembling "rings" do occur, yet, owing to the abundance of all kinds 

 of irregular forms, it is certainly difficult to find quite typical " signet " 

 rings. Laterally applied parasites {accoUs of French authors) also occur, but 

 in them the chromatin is not dot-like, as it usually is in the malignant tertian, 

 but practically always rod-like. 



3. The nuclear chromatin is out of proportion to the volume of the 

 parasite. It takes the form of bars or rods, strands, curves, forks, 

 patches, etc. ; the occurrence of the chromatin in a dot, as in the " ring " 

 forms of other species, is rare. In the web-like protoplasmic processes 

 mentioned above there may be seen several chromatin strands, and not 

 uncommonly one observes a minute dot of chromatin some way from 

 the parasite, or between two portions of the parasite, though the 

 protoplasmic process connecting it with the main mass or masses is so thin 

 as to be invisible. The chromatin masses are frequently angular, the angles 

 jutting into the points at which an amoeboid process is given off. Abundance 

 of, and marked irregularity in distribution of, the chromatin masses are 

 characteristic of this parasite. 



I reproduce in a coloured plate the peculiar forms of this parasite, as it 

 is very difficult, if not impossible, to describe them in words. 



I next consider in what respects this parasite in my opinion differs from 

 the hitherto described parasites of malaria. 



Malignant Tertian Parasite. — It differs from this 



(1) In its amoeboid activity. In the case of the malignant tertian parasite 

 a certain amount of amoeboid activity is observable, giving rise to " star-fish " 

 shapes, and to somewhat irregular or even bacillary forms ; but the activity 

 is not comparable with that of this parasite, which has for this reason a most 

 strange and peculiar appearance. The picture produced by the splash of a 

 drop of ink on paper may suggest some of the forms seen. 



(2) In the abundance and irregularity of nuclear matter. This, as the 

 coloured plate shows, is very different from what one finds in the malignant 

 tertian parasite, where the term " signet rings " well expresses the general 

 morphology. The quotidian parasite, if such exists, differs so slightly 

 morphologically from the malignant tertian parasite that the differences 

 just pointed out between this Indian parasite and the malignant tertian 

 apply equally to it. 



Simple Tertian Parasite. — It differs from this in the following respects : — 



