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SECTION I.
HISTORICAL REFERENCES.
In the blood of different kinds of fish protozoa have been recognised since 1841. At that date,
* Valentin described animalculæ in the blood of the common frog 7 to 15u in. length, endowed with
amœboid movements.
The first observation concerning protozoa in the blood of Batrachians is due to†Glüge in 1842
This observer discovered in the heart of a frog a microscopic organism, of some length, terminating in
a point at both extremities, and presenting on the right side three fairly long appendices (probably an
undulating membrane), which it was able to move with great rapidity; at the same time the organism
moved quickly from one position to another. The body was transparent, and did not present any signs
of organisation.
In a more recent and complete investigation of the hærnatozoa of fish the Russian naturalist
‡Mitrophanow describes under the name of Hæmatomonas colitis an organism observed by him in the
blood of the cobitis fossilis or mud-fish. The organisms at first looked like minute nematodes, but
the appearances and changes which took place on further examination showed nothing in common with
worms. Mitrophanow then thought that they were possibly the Cytozoa described by Gaule, but this
idea was dismissed by the fact that they were found in the blood to which no salt solution had been
added. The organisms were extremely difficult to examine on account of their rapid movement, but.as
the movement gradually ceased, the length was found to vary from 30 to 40 u, and the breadth
from 1 to 1.5 u. The body presented on one of its sides a large' undulating membrane twisted
spirally; at one extremity of the organism a long flagellum was observed, which gradually became thinner
and thinner like the lash of a whip. In progression this end was always directed to the fore, the other
extremity of the body was much shorter and less pointed. At the moment of death the flagellum and
membrane became retracted, and the organism assumed the appearance of a simple shapeless mass of
protoplasm.
Mitrophanow also described the organism found in the Carp (Carassius vulgaris) tinder the name of
Hæmatomonus carqssii. This second organism very much resembles the one previously described, but
it is larger, and the undulating membrane straighter and its activity less marked. These flagellated
protozoa were observed in the blood of all mud-fish examined, with one exception, and were in greater
numbers in the hot months. In the Carp they were only found occasionally.
In 1888 §Chalachnikow found the hæmatozoon of Lewis in the blood of the Mus decumanus and
Cricetus frumentarius.
At a later date 1889, ¶Danilewshy observed the same form of parasites in different fish (Cyprinus
carpio, C. tinca, Colitis fossilis, G. barlatulat Esox lucius, Perca fuviatilis, etc.) He has given them,
the name of Trypanosoma piscium, and recognises two varieties, which correspond almost exactly to
those which Mitrophanow recorded.
Labbé observed in the blood of a leech, after three months' confinement, hæmatozoa corresponding
to those observed in the horse.
SECTION II.
RESULTS OF OBSERVATION CONDUCTED IN INDIA.
Between the end of the year 1890 and 1895, we observed in.the blood of certain species of fish three
varieties of Trypanosoma, differing in size, but all closely resembling the fully developed hæmatozoon
of Surra; while a second form of flagellated protozoon was found in bottom or mud-fish. This latter
organism was not furnished at this stage of its development with an undulating membrane. . The shape
of the body was round. Members of the following families and Genera taken from rivers in the
Deccan, on the West Coast of India, were submitted to examination.
(a) Rhynchobdellidæ.
Genera i.—Rhynchobdella—sp. R. Aculeata.
„
ii. —Mastacembelus—sp. M. Armatus.
* G. Valentin.—Ueber ein Entozoon im Blute Von Salmofario.
Miiller's Archives—1841, page 435.
† G. Glüge.—Ueber ein eigen thurnliches Entozoon im Blute des Froehes,
Midler's Archives—1842, page 148.
‡ Mitrophanow P.—Nene monadenformige Parasiten des Fischbluts. Biologisches Centrabblatt. Band III,
Marz 15th, 1883, page 35.
Gaule.—Ueber wünnchen welche ausdem Froschblut Korperchen Auswandern.
Archiv : fur : Anat and Physiologie, 1880, S. 57.
§ Chalachnikow.—Rech. Sur les parasites dn sang chez les animaux á sang froid et á sang chaud. Kharkov, 1888,
¶Danilewsky.— La parasitologic comparee du sang, enfrancais, 1889, Kharkoff.
(ii) Trypanosomes et Trypanomonades.
(iii) Hematozoaires des Tortues.
II Labbe.—Note Suz un nouvean parasite du sang. Bulletin de la Soc Zool de France, 1891. Tome XVI, No. 8.