57

once more; whereupon the ribbon-like filament at theother extremity was suddenly straightened in a similarmanner, and the ’ head’ rapidly projected into the

very tip." The hæmatozoon may, therefore, be said to be enveloped

in an extremely delicate tube, closed at both ends, within whichit is capable of elongating or shortening itself. This tube,

like the sarcolemma of muscular fibres, is without anyvisible structure, is perfectly transparent, and, but for thedifference between it and the fluid in which it is immersed

in its power of refracting light, which allows of its margins

or folds being brought into view, it could not be demon-

strated." The fact of its being thus enclosed seems to show that

in the present stage of its existence, the ’home’ of thisfilaria is in the blood; it has no visible means of perforatingthe tissues; moreover, although constantly observed tobe in a state of great activity, it does not seem to manifestany special tendency to migration, and is apparently de-pendent on the current of the blood for its transferencefrom place to place; its movements, therefore, within this

enveloping tube, appear to be as limited as those of anyother animal enclosed within a sac."In Fig. 3 are seen various appearances presented by thehæmatozoa.With regard to size, Dr. Lewis gives the following table,

showing the relative size of the trichina, the embryo ofthe guinea-worm, aud the hsemaiozoa.

A remarkable fact about the haematozoon is, that upto this time Dr. Lewis has not unequivocally detectedthe ova. Bodies have been seen which were probablyova; but Dr. Lewis considers it safer at present not todescribe them.With respect to the relation of this worm to chyluria,

while it has been found in from fifteen to twenty personsaffected with this disease, and while in no one case of chy-luria has it been absent, Dr. Lewis is careful to point outthat he does not desire to refer all cases of chyluria to thiscause.

IRISH POOR - LAW MEDICAL OFFICERS’ASSOCIATION.

A MEETING of the North-western branch of this Associa-tion was held in Omagh on the 2nd of January, for thepurpose of hearing a statement from Dr. Maunsell (secre-tary to the Association), in anticipation of the introductionof a Public Health Bill for Ireland during the comingsession.The chair was taken by Dr. Motherell, of Castlederg,

county representative for Tyrone. A number of medical

men from Armagh, Donegal, Londonderry, and the neigh-bouring counties were present.

Dr. Maunsell having made a lengthened explanatorystatement, resolutions to the following effect were unani-mously adopted :-"That, as the prevention of disease would be the great

object of the Public Health Bill, the action of the DiseasesPrevention Act should be made continuous, and not allowedto remain intermittent as at present, and only put intoforce whenever any part of Ireland is threatened with, oraffected by, any formidable epidemic, endemic, or conta-gious disease."

" That every dispensary medical officer should be, ex

officio, the medical officer of health of his district, in orderto consolidate the preventive and curative medical systemin Ireland; and that for the performance of such dutiesthey shall receive such salary or remuneration as the LocalGovernment Board should direct or approve.",,That provision should be made that medical officers of

health, when called upon to attend as witnesses in courts of

law or at sanitary investigations, should receive fees andexpenses, there being no provision for payment of medical

witnesses in Ireland."" That provision should be made in the Public HealthBill for Ireland for the appointment of medical inspectors,as under the Medical Charities Act."