24 



Eucalyi^tol emulsion 1-2,000 (with bicarbonate of soda), ichthyol 

 1-500, and oil of cassia in emulsion 1-2,000 all permitted a fair 

 growth of amoebae and cholera spirilla after an hour's application. 



Permanganate of potassium 1-4,000 had l)ut slight effect in 

 fifteen minutes and 1-2,000 stopped all growth of amoebae after 

 an exposure of fifteen minutes, though failing to destroy the 

 siDirilla. 



Infusion of quassia really seemed to stimulate the growth of 

 the amoebae, jDerhaps supplying some nutritive substance from the 

 wood fibers. Quassia was tried because of its former reputation as 

 an injection for Oxyuris vermicularis, and upon the supposition that 

 the bitter principle might exert a harmful effect on the amoelia. 



Sulphate of quinine 1-500 destroyed amoeba and spirilla in thirty 

 minutes; 1-1,000 (acidified with HCl 1-5,000) had a slight deter- 

 rent effect in fifteen minutes and marked destructive effect in thirty 

 minutes; 1-1,000 (HCl 1-2,500) had the same effect as the solu- 

 tion of half that acidity, except that the gro^vth of amoebae on the 

 cholera plates was richer in the former. This action Avas probably 

 due to the accidental transplanting of an unusual number of 

 amoebse, as the increased acidity would certainly not favor the 

 growth of amoebae. 



Bisulphate of quinine did not differ appreciably in its action 

 from that of the sulphate when tested in solutions of equal strength 

 and acidity. 



Thymol 1-2,500 exercised a marked effect on the amoeba in 

 fifteen minutes but failed to destroy the spirillum in an hour. 

 A number of other experiments with thymol even diluted as high as 

 1-5,000 demonstrated this specific effect on the amoeba and a failure 

 to destroy the symbiotic cholera spirillum. The specific action of 

 thymol suggests a combination of substances for the local treatment 

 of amcebiasis in which thymol would form the antiamoebic 

 ingredient and one of the silver salts benzoA'l acetyl peroxide or 

 succinic peroxide acid the antibacterial ingredient. Theoretically 

 such a coml)ination as this or the alternate use of the solutions sug- 

 gested should give the best possible results. The possibility of 

 absorbing thymol in toxic amounts in such high dilutions is remote ; 

 however, its local effect on the bowel must be tested clinically. 



Sulphate of copper 1-1,000 stopped the growth of amoebae in 

 tliirty minutes by destroying the cholera spirilla, and 1-2,000 

 exercised a similar but weaker action in the same length of time. 



