The author commenced his observations by remarking that this very interesting entozoon was discovered in 1833, by Mr Hilton, who first saw the cysts enclosing the worms, and supposed them to be cysticerci. Shortly thereafter, Mr Paget discovered the worm itself. Further information was given in two excellent memoirs by Dr Farre and Mr Owen; and to the views of the former of these gentlemen the author chiefly leans.

Throughout the observations, he endeavours to shew, that the origin of this entozoon is very obscure, and is not referrible to any known bodily ailment or mode of life. He differs also from preceding observers, both in respect to the form of the cyst, its structure, and its connexions; the form he makes out to be oval, the structure distinctly granular and not cellular, that is, not composed, as some have conjectured, out of the surrounding cellular tissue; and the connexion not universal, but towards the extremities. He conjectures also, that the granular structure discovered by him on the exterior of the cysts may be the germs of future individual worms and cysts.

The aged person, whose muscles after death presented these entozoon in such numbers, was quite healthy until a short period before her demise.