OF THE ALIMENTARY TRACT 133 



in 11% of his protozoa infested cases and in which 

 disease he found 100% intestinal protozoa infection, 

 was conspicuous by its absence, there being no re- 

 corded case in the parasitized group. The search 

 for this disease in the records of the flagellate hosts 

 was done as an afterthought, the records of the others 

 were not examined with this in view. 



It will be seen that in such a study there is little 

 or nothing to produce as evidence in favor of harm- 

 ful effect of flagellates upon their hosts, but rather 

 to the contrary. 



EXAMINATION FOR FLAGELLATES 



In examining for flagellates in feces it is well to 

 have a procedure which fits with that of search for 

 amoebae. It is the practice of the writer to ask 

 for a fresh stool produced by a saline purgative, un- 

 less there is diarrhoea. As contrasted to the amoe- 

 bae it is the active form, the trophozoite, which is 

 most practically discoverable with the flagellates. 

 Unless the stool is really fresh and liquid, tropho- 

 zoites which are present may not be seen or at least 

 not so readily. Numerous surveys giving a low inci- 

 dence to Trichomonas were made on stools which 

 were not fresh. 



Mixed on a microscopic slide with 0.9% sodium 

 chloride solution to a thinness so that, when cov- 

 ered, vision is clear, and examined with a low dry 

 objective, feces will ordinarily reveal the active or- 



