Descriptive catalogue of the specimens illustrating medical pathology, in the Museum of University College, London / Charles Stonham.

  • Stonham, Charles, 1858-1916.
Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Descriptive catalogue of the specimens illustrating medical pathology, in the Museum of University College, London / Charles Stonham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    Cysticercus cellulosce (No. 3524) is the larval form of the Taeuia solium, and usually occurs in the substance of the hemispheres, but may be iu connection with the membranes (jN'o. 3524) or choroid plexuses. The cysts are usually multiple, but distinct, as many as a hundred having been met with, and vary in size up to that of a pigeon's egg. Cysticercus racemosus differs froui the preceding in consisting of a group of large sterile vesicles, somewhat resembling a bunch of grapes. G<xnurus cerebralis, or Gid-hydatid (No. 3525), is the larval form of Taenia coenurus, which inhabits the alimentary tract of the dog and wolf. Tlie parasite is common iu sheep ; it also affects the brains of cattle, goats, deer, antelopes, the giraffe, camel, and horse. The larval form was supposed only to affect the braiu and spinal cord, but speci- mens have been met with in the subcutaneous and intermuscular areolar planes, notably of the rabbit; some authors, however, look upon this as a different species. The Coenurus is characterized by the presence of a large vesicle containing clear Huid, attached to the walls of which are a number of scolex-heads measuring ^ inch long by inch broad, and provided with four suckers and a rostellum surrounded by a double coronet of booklets, fifteen in each row. The skull of the sheep over the seat of the parasite becomes soft and thinned, and in some cases perforated, having a honeycombed appearance (No. 3525). This softened area of bone is cut out by the shepherd, who then extracts the parasite with a roughened quill, the bone is replaced, and a bandage applied. In some cases this treatment is successful, but more usually the auiraal dies from exhaustion. The presence of this parasite produces iu sheep the condition known as Staggers, a disease characterized by rotatory movements of the animal (No. 3525). Staggers in horses is the name given to a condition, dependent on a morbid state of the brain, in which the animal reels or staggers in his attempts to walk ; it is usually easily benefited by bleeding from the vessels of the palate or throwing cold water over the animal. 3524. A small part of one of the cerebral hemispheres, showing a small membranous cyst situated in one of the sulci. It is about the size of a large pea, and probably springs from the pia mater. The neighbouring convolutions are slightly indented by the growth, but there is no sign of inflammatory softening in the neighbourhood^ The cyst is probably that of Cysticercus cellulosse. 2207 3525. Part of the right side of the skull and the right half of the brain of a sheep. The anterior two thirds of the cerebral hemisphere have been extensively destroyed; towards the vault a thin layer of bi'ain-substance is all that remains; towards the orbit it has been completely removed, exposing the dura mater, but at the base a thiclv layer of brain-substance is still present; on the surface of this is a thin membrane, which can be easily raised but is very friable. The lining membrane of the cavity is of a light brown tint. The dura mater appears healthy. The orbital wall of the skull is abnormally thin. The cyst is that of the Coenurus cerebralis. The sheep suffered from Staggers. HH 3526. A calcareous cyst which was found iu the brain of a sheep, situated on the corpus callosum rather to the right of the middle line. It is impossible to determine the nature of the cyst, but it is probable that the specimen represents calcification of the walls of a cyst of the Coenurus. 1696 CoirOKBTIONS IN THE BllAIN, SpINAL CoRD, AJfD MESCBRAIfBS. i. Corpora Amylacea are normally met with in the brain, but are much more abundantly seen when any degenerative process has occurred, or in tumours (No. 3519). They form small usually rounded masses distinctly stratified on section, and sometimes containing foreign matter iu the centre, especially blood-clot. They