Further remarks on parasites from the horse and elephant : with a notice of new amphistomes from the ox / by T. Spencer Cobbold.

Thomas Spencer Cobbold

Date:: 1875

Credit: Further remarks on parasites from the horse and elephant : with a notice of new amphistomes from the ox / by T. Spencer Cobbold. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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$stoma Hawkesii and A. Collinsii, I have now in my possession the new series from the ox, and also another set from the horse. On the 14th ultimo (October) Professor Simonds placed in my hands a corked glass tube containing thirty-three worms of this genus. From one cause or another he had not drawn my attention to them before, hut from this ‘ find ’ it now appears that Mr. Collins’ discovery of equine amphi- stomes was anticipated by Mr. Edward Stanley, junr., w'ho had, some five or six years back, sent the specimens to Mr. Simonds. They were forwarded from India during Mr. Stanley’s residence in that country. It is worthy of remark that as regards size the amphistomes in question come much nearer to Lieut-Colonel Ilawkes’ masuri of the elephant than they do to Mr. Collins’ specimens from the horse. Under any circumstances, however, the nomenclature already proposed must be provisionally allowed to stand, whether or not Mr. Stanley’s amphistomes prove to be specifically distinct. Save in the matter of size such fine distinctions as are noticeable in the two sets of worms, when contrasted, appear to be almost entirely due to changes produced by the spirit in which they have been preserved. Therefore, regard- ing all these various Indian amphistomes as at best mere modifications of some original type form, it might be just as well to speak of them collectively by the native term of masuri. Thus, we have “ masuri ” from the horse, ox, and elephant, besides others from wild animals too numerous to mention. In the deer tribe they are very prevalent. With- out insisting on the specific distinctness of the various forms that have now been either noticed or described, it will be useful, meanwhile, to draw up a list of those at present known to infest the more important quadrupeds. This catalogue may form a sort of point of departure for further special work in connection with the amphistomes infesting our domesti- cated animals. To the forms that I regard as doubtfully specific a mark of interrogation is appended. 1. The common amphistome {A. conicum, Rudolphi) in- fests the rumen of the bison, ox, zebu and all other varieties of cattle ; also the sheep and gazelle, red deer, reindeer, roe, fallow and deer tribe generally. 2. Gurlt’s pouched amphistome (^.crMmc7t^erM»j,Creplin) infests the rumen of the zebu (?). 3. Gurlt’s hepatic amphistome (A. explanatum, Creplin) infests the gall-bladder and hepatic duct of the zebu. 4. Hawkes’ bovine amphistome {A. tuberculata, T. S. C.) infests the intestines of the ox.$

Further remarks on parasites from the horse and elephant : with a notice of new amphistomes from the ox / by T. Spencer Cobbold.

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