An Observation on Preserved Ova of Ascaris Lumbricoides

we observed that in several ascaris ova a small larva was wriggling within the shell. This was also noted by our colleagues Dr. Bag and D1'Dutt and several students. As we watched, an area of the shell of one ovum gave way?opening up as if on hinges and the larva wriggled out. As soon as the larva came out it died. After a couple of minutes the whole egg-shell crumbled. In several other smears of the specimen larv# were seen, apparently dead, half in and half out of the shell. We have not seen this phenomenon with ascaris ova before. My (A. S.) experience in examination of preserved faeces is however very limited. The specimen was preserved by formalin method three weeks previously. (Fseces diluted with water, mixed with equal quantity of hot 10 per cent formalin? allowed to stand for a few hours, supernatant fluid decanted off and replaced by 5 per cent formalin, and kept in stoppered bottles.) Before giving the specimen to the class the supernatant formalin solution was decanted off and replaced by normal saline.