326 
ON HOOSE IN CATTLE. 
riads of them in the proper substance of the lungs secondly, “ In 
all that died from the disease, the cellular membrane of the lungs 
was filled with the worms, while the air-cells were free.” 
In the post-mortem examinations which I have made, this is not 
the case, for I did not find them in the substance or cellular mem¬ 
brane of the lungs, but simply in the bronchial tubes and air-cells : 
it was these facts that called for the observation I made upon Cam¬ 
per’s statement; but I might have been more explicit. 
I do consider the bronchial tubes as their proper nidus on their 
being first developed; but when they have propagated themselves 
to the amazing extent they do, they are compelled to find room 
where they can. It is at this period that the air-cells become oc¬ 
cupied by them, when they soon terminate the sufferings of the 
animal upon which they are preying, by suffocating it. Camper’s 
observations will require to be verified or further contradicted by 
an extensive series of morbid examinations accurately conducted, 
as we do know there is a possibility of worms eating their way 
through even the intestinal coats into the cavity of the abdomen, 
and thereby occasioning acute inflammation and death*. 
Even these humble creatures, placed by Providence in the lowest 
scale of organic life, beautifully illustrate the wonderful adaptation 
of unerring instinct to pursue those measures which will secure the 
life and support of the animal. We here find them developing 
themselves, and domiciling in one of the most untoward situations 
to our ideas, whether viewed relatively to themselves or the ani¬ 
mal they prey upon; for when even a minute foreign body gets 
into the bronchi, unless coughed up, it is followed by intense dis¬ 
tress, inflammation, and death. Yet these little animals riot by 
millions with impunity upon the surface of one of the most delicate 
membranes; just keeping up that irritation which does not directly 
destroy, but is the means of furnishing all their animal wants by 
the immense secretion excited ; and, at length, their career is only 
terminated by the exhaustion and suffocation of their victim. 
Well may v/e exclaim. How fearfully and wonderfully every thing 
is made, and how adapted to its end ! 
* Our experience,—not so extensive as that of Mr. Mayer,—reaching, per¬ 
haps, not to more than a score cases, fully confirms his statement. We have 
found these worms “ in the bronchial tubes and air-cells,” but never in the 
substance or cellular membrane of the lungs. This of Camper’s is only one 
of the numerous and singular errors of great men. We can suppose that a 
few of these parasites, when they were more than usually numerous, might 
have penetrated into the substance of the lungs, but the air-ceUs would still 
have been filled with them. This generally accurate observer must, for once, 
have been writing from erroneous recollection.—Y. 
