Parasites: A Treatise on the Entozoa of Man and Animals: Including Some Account of the EctozoaCobbold, T. Spencer (Thomas Spencer)
Science
Parasites: A Treatise on the Entozoa of Man and Animals: Including Some Account of the Ectozoa
Cobbold, T. Spencer (Thomas Spencer)
Helminths; Parasites
Dr Harley has admirably represented this character, which is
shared by many other parasitic larvæ. Throughout the greater part of
the time, whilst the embryo is still resident within the egg, the broad
neck or base of the cephalic cone forms a fixed point of resistance by
its firm attachment to the inner wall of the shell; and this structural
union, so long as it remains intact, enables the embryo to move not
only its head and body from side to side synchronously, but also each
part independently. When the time for final escape is drawing near,
the vigorous movements of the cone-shaped head seem chiefly concerned
in loosening the membranous connection just referred to; and when, at
length, the ciliated animalcule has succeeded in overcoming this first
difficulty, it is ludicrous to witness its frantic efforts to find an
opening in the shell. While thus partially liberated, it will rush to
and fro from one pole of the egg to the other, performing a series of
summersaults, and at the same time occasionally rolling itself over
laterally. This activity becomes gradually more and more violent, until
at length its excitement is worked up into a sort of frenzy. I have
many times watched these performances, which, however, are only to be
seen within those ova whose shells, for some reason or other, refuse to
yield to the earlier and ordinary efforts of the prisoner. In all cases
where these phenomena are witnessed the eye readily detects a number of
small free globules between the embryo and the inner wall of the shell
(fig. 13). These minute particles are likewise tossed about tumultuously
during the rapid rotatory movements of the imprisoned larva. Except
as regards their size, these globules do not differ in character from
the sarcodic contents of the animalcule. They are probably superfluous
detachments from the primitive yolk-mass, but it is possible that they
may afford some aid in the final breaking up of the shell. Whilst the
embryo remains fixed its tail is usually directed towards the narrower
or spine-bearing pole of the egg, but in a few instances I have seen
this position reversed. As regards the precise mode of emerging from the
shell, and the time occupied by the larva in freeing itself, there are
several points of interest. Speaking generally, the purer the medium
into which the ova are transferred, the more rapid will be the movements
of the larvæ. To give an example of observed facts in relation to the
rapidity of development, I cite the following:--“On the 20th of August,
1870, I placed twelve eggs of _Bilharzia_ under the microscope. The
medium in which they were immersed consisted of eight parts of ordinary
drinking water to one of urine. At the expiration of seventeen minutes
the first-born made its escape. In the course of another minute two more
emerged. In twenty-six minutes the fourth, in twenty-eight the fifth, in
thirty-two the sixth, in thirty-four the seventh, in thirty-seven the
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