212 
Many examples of the above and other kinds of adultera- 
tion, mounted for the microscope, were exhibited at the 
same time, for comparison with pure specimens. 
Attention was drawn to the loss science has sustained by 
the death of the late Mr. William Wilson, the eminent 
museologist, and it was unanimously resolved that a letter 
of condolence be forwarded to Mrs. Wilson and her family. 
Annual Meeting, May 8th, 1871. 
Joseph Baxendell, F.R.A.S., President of the Section, 
in the Chair. 
“Observations on the Bilharzia hsematobia (Cobbold), 
Distomum haematobium (Bilharz),” by Henry Simpson, 
M.D. 
The Bilharzia h&ematobia is an entozoon infesting the 
human body, and very prevalent in some hot climates. It 
occurs abundantly in Egypt and at the Cape of Good Hope, 
where it is the cause of the hsematuria endemic in those 
countries. 
It was discovered in 1851, by Dr. Bilharz, of Cairo, and 
found to inhabit the small blood vessels of the bladder, 
kidneys, &c., producing various abnormal changes in the 
mucous membranes. It slowly undermines the health, and 
leads eventually, in many cases, to a fatal result. It is very 
common in Egypt, for Griesinger and Bilharz found the 
worm in 117 out of 3G3 post mortem examinations. 
The first cases met with in this country were related by 
Dr. John Harley, in 186k These were from the Cape. In 
1869 and 1870 he published papers supplementary to his 
first one. 
