Piroplasma Bovis.                        99

and furnish a close resemblance to microgametes and gameto-
cytes.

Many other forms closely resemble parasites, elongated
bodies with a flagellum at one end and tapering at the other
extremity, simulate trypanosomes; others with oval bodies
possessing flagellum; the free end pointed and containing
fine chromatin granules, behind which a nuclear-like mass
complete the similarity to what has been described as flagel-
lated forms of the Leishman-Donovan bodies. The large
bodies of this kind might well be mistaken for herpetomonas
forms of developing trypanosomes. A very frequent form
observed was that of a spindle with flagella at either end.
While making examination of these flagellated bodies, I had
an opportunity of comparing preparations from the blood of
a patient suffering from a very severe attack of æstivo-
autumnal fever. In these also flagellated bodies were found
very similar to those met with in the blood of cattle suffer-
ing from Piroplasmosis. These were the same round cells
with membrane chromatin granules and flagella; trypano-
some and herpetomonas forms. Following Swingle's experi-
ments, on culture media, I was able to obtain similar flagellated
bodies from both human and cattle normal blood kept in
Sodium Citrate solution. From these observations it is appar-
ent that many of the flagellate forms seen in the blood of
cattle dying from Piroplasmosis are peculiar developments of
the platelets and in no way connected with piroplasma. This,
however, is not the case with the free flagella described earlier
in this paper, which have no resemblance to any forms of
platelets.

There is the possibility that certain forms of platelets may
have been described as parasites in blood preparations.

Without careful examination such an error might easily
occur. There is, however, no reason to doubt the accuracy of
the observation and descriptions recorded of the flagellated
form of the piroplasma.

                                   PLATE No. C.

Drawn with 2.0 M.M., Apert. 1.30 Zeiss Comp. Oc. 8, Magnification
100, stained Leishman.

A.—Free flagella in blood of cattle suffering from Piroplasmosis Bovis.