On the destruction of fish and other aquatic animals by internal parasites / by T. Spencer Cobbold.

  • Cobbold, T. Spencer (Thomas Spencer), 1828-1886.
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the destruction of fish and other aquatic animals by internal parasites / 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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    latter.” This puts a very different complexion on the matter, seeing that the true nature of the alleged delicacy must have been overlooked by those at least who first partook of it. Stimulated to further enquiries I sought and found Signor Briganti’s original memoir in the Transactions of the Royal Academy of Naples, bearing the date of 1819, but probably issued somewhat later, since the work by Rudolphi, from which I have quoted, bears the same date. Be that as it may, Briganti remarks that he does not think it need occasion any surprise that the Ligula edulis “ eaten with relish by not a few with the fish which contains it,” causes no injury whatever to their health. He further remarks upon the not unpleasant flavour possessed by the ligules, of which he had been assured, and says that he willingly accepts that view, because the parasite is destitute of any alimentary canal and does not contain any excre- mentary matters. He refers to the nourishment derived by the parasite from the juices of the contiguous viscera of the host and to other circumstances ensuring its cleanliness. Briganti’s memoir, though often quoted second-hand, seems to have been rarely consulted. He gives excellent illus- trations. In his first plate he figures three fish of nearly the natural size ; one showing the characteristically swollen abdomen, especially in the region of the vent, and another with the viscera exposed to show the position of the ligules. In the second plate excellent figures are given of the worms in various positions, from different media, the first six examples being all removed from one of the fish (Cyprinus lacustris). This small Cyprin inhabits Lake Palo, near Contursi, and it was at the time regarded by Briganti as new to science. I have thought it might be useful thus to particularise Briganti’s labours, although it is to Dr. Duchamp’s recent work that we are principally indebted [24] B 3