ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
429 
From each of these four long chromosomes with pointed distal ends are 
developed. The chromosomes, still attached by their thicker extremities 
to the body of the parasite, next attempt to escape from the red corpuscle 
by perforating the elastic limiting membrane. All this time they are 
in constant movement, but if they fail to escape from the corpuscle the 
movements cease. 
As the flagella of the malaria parasites and the chromosomes are 
identical, it is obvious that chromosomes are possessed of independent 
active movement. 
Infectious Diseases among Turkeys.* — Mr. T. Smith has made an 
investigation of the infectious diseases among turkeys caused by Amoeba 
meleagridis , a new species which he discovered in the liver or cseca of 
turkeys infected with the disease. This disease seems to attack turkeys 
when quite young, and the primary seats are the cseca. From these the 
liver is invaded. The disease runs a regular course, but varies from 
bird to bird in severity, duration, and termination ; its action is in many 
cases severe enough to prove fatal. The parasite appears to be trans- 
mitted from bird to bird without passing through &n intermediate host. 
Biological and Clinical Researches on Amoeba coli Losch.f — Sig. 
0. G. V. Casagrandi and Sig. P. Barbagallo-Rapisiardi have frequently 
met with Amoeba coli in typhoid diarrhoea, in simple intestinal catarrh, 
and in sporadic dysentery. The Amoebse vary extremely in size, shape, 
movement, &c. even in the same case. This variability is also seen in 
encysted Amoebse. According to the character and properties of the 
faeces the free or encysted multinucleated Amoebse are met with. The 
free forms divide on the spot, while the encysted are intended for another 
host. Experiments show that the clinical importance of A. coli is over- 
rated, for diarrhoea does not develope in cats unless the intestinal 
canal be already in a catarrhal condition. The A. coli of dysentery will 
develope in cats, but only because the dysenteric material injected at the 
same time sets up the condition necessary for its development. Nor can 
A. coli be held responsible for abscesses of the liver, since there are 
cases of dysenteric abscess of the liver in which the Amoebse cannot 
be demonstrated. A. coli of healthy persons and of those suffering from 
diarrhoea and dysentery are, therefore, one and the same form, which 
multiplies in the host by simple fission and is transferred to another 
host after encystment. It is pathogenic neither to man nor cats, and 
is really a useful guest, as it destroys other organisms living in the 
intestinal canal. 
* Bull. U.S. Department of Agriculture, No. viii. (1895) pp. 7-3S (5 pis.). 
f Catania, 1895, 8vo, 15 pp. See Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., l te Abt., 
xix. (1896) p. 572. 
