AN ATYPICAL AM@BA CAUSING DYSENTERIC LESIONS 
By GOPAL CHANDRA CHATTERJEE 
Assistant Professor of Pathology and Assistant Bacteriologist, Medical 
College, Calcutta 
THREE COLORED PLATES 
Although many of the findings of Schaudinn(5) on Entameba 
histolytica and E. coli have since been controverted by subse- 
quent observers, that portion of his work on Entameba histoly- 
tica in which he has proved that it is the sole pathogenic species 
in man, all others being nonpathogenic, has received ample con- 
firmation from workers in all parts of the world. In fact, by 
the term ameebic dysentery we understand dysentery caused by 
Entameba histolytica Schaudinn. Viereck’s Entameba tetra- 
gena and Elmassian’s EH’. minuta have been proved to be phases 
of EF. histolytica. Hartmann’s Entameba africana has been 
proved to be identical with the “tetragena phase” of E. histoly- 
tica. Accordingly, the importance of finding an ameeba causing 
fatal dysenteric lesions and differing from the classical patho- 
genic species in its nuclear and other characters can well be 
appreciated. 
The patient, from whom the material forming the subject 
matter of the present paper was obtained, was admitted to the 
Medical College Hospital, Calcutta, in a moribund condition. 
He died a few hours after admission. At the autopsy, which 
was held three hours after death, the large intestine was found 
‘inflamed and ulcerated throughout. A portion near the rectum 
was in a sloughing condition. In parts not so severely affected 
were found small, circular, elevated ulcers in the middle of which 
there was a central slough—an appearance which is well known 
as pathognomonic of ameebic dysentery. Near the cecum, some 
coils of intestine were found matted together. However, no 
distinct perforation could be made out. A peculiarity not or- 
dinarily found in amebic dysentery was a large elevated inflam- 
matory patch on the peritoneal surface of the wall of a portion 
of the intestine that was matted together. A smear was made 
from this inflamed patch on the peritoneal side, and this was 
examined microscopically. I was surprised to find numerous 
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