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Many of the fowls were examined by me at the Public Mortuary. The following appearances were found. The beak was covered with a thick yellowish brown discharge. The lungs were congested, and the mucous membrane of the intestines was usually hæmorrhagic. The contents of the bowel were frothy and blood stained. The other organs were full of dark venous blood.

An organism could be isolated from all the "body tissues. It was a small, nou-motile bacillus, showing bipolar staining. It did not stain by GRAIN'S method, and could be grown easily on all ordinary culture ne·lia. It was pathogenic for other birds, rabbits and mice, and killed guinea pigs if inoculated intraperitoneally,

This micro-organism was identified as the bacillus of fowl cholera. This disease would appear to be widely distributed through Southern China.

Distomatosis Hepaticum.

During the past year, this parasite-Distoma Sinense-has been found in cases. In one case, it was obviously the cause of death; in the other two, the in- dividuals had died of an intercurrent disorder. All the cases were in Chinese adults.

Its

The general pathological appearances may be described as follows:-Chest, normal; peritoneum, normal; the gastro-intestinal tract was normal as far as the commencement of the jejunum. From this part onwards, the mucous membrane of the gut was thickened and congested, with the presence of small erosions and hæmorrhages. Numerous characteristic eggs of the Distomum were found in the contents of the gut. The large intestine was normal. No worms were found in the intestinal canal. The liver was always enlarged and increased in weight. consistency was fibrous and it had a general anaemic appearance. On section, it was found to be cirrhotc. The biliary canals were much dilated and thickened and welling out from their cut ends was a thick, slimy, brownish fluid, containing myriads of the Distomata. The worms were present in thousands, forming embo- lic like masses in each biliary duct. To give one an idea of the number present in one of the cases, 3 bottles of a capacity of 80

Parasites were also present in the gall blad C. were packed full of Distomata.

were found in the pancreas.

In two of the cases, the parasites

The kidneys, spleen, and other organs were normal. Nothing is known of the life history of this parasite. IJIMA, of Japan, has found the same worm in the

eat.

Probably the immature stages of the worm are passed in some fresh water

animal.

For many years, this Distoma was said to be innocuous, but with more definite information the prognosis is usually unfavourable.

In all cases of obscure hepatic disease in this part of the world, the examin- ation of the faces for the characteristic eggs of this parasite, should never be neglected.

Sulphuric Acid Poisoning.

A Frenchman, aged 38, on board one of the steamers in the harbour, committed suicide by swallowing a quantity of sulphuric acid.

From the history of the case it is uncertain whether sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol was taken. Further, as the man was a drunkard, it is uncertain whether he mistook the oily fluid for alcoholic liquor. At the post-mortem examination dirty yellow-brownish stains were found about the angles of the mouth. The mucous membrane of the mouth itself was in an escharotic condition. The tongue was brown, leather-like and dry. The esophagus was in a condition similar to- that of the mouth. The stomach was contracted. Its inner aspect showed a number of brownish black areas which were in reality eschars produced by prolonged contact with the poison. These were specially marked along the rage. The small intestine was swollen and deeply congested.

The other organs showed little of any interest.

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