OF THE ALIMENTARY TRACT 137 



stration of the flagella, undulating membrane, the 

 cytoplasm and its food bodies, but these stains do not 

 give nuclear detail and are generally of little or no 

 service in differentiating protozoa. 



A little careful study and practice will enable the 

 laboratorian to dispense with time consuming and 

 difficult staining methods in routine examination for 

 flagellates in feces. Similar fresh unstained prepara- 

 tions from the gums and vaginal vault are satisfac- 

 tory for discovery of Trichomonas in these locations. 

 In urine the ordinary microscopic examination 

 of ^-centrifugalized specimens will reveal Trichom- 

 onas when present. One must, however, be contin- 

 ually on guard against free living forms which may 

 come from water in specimen bottles or from solutions 

 used in the examinations or may grow in specimens 

 allowed to stand. Fresh specimens taken in dry 

 clean containers are essential to avoid confusion and 

 even then one will occasionally encounter a free liv- 

 ing flagellate. Check of the water and solutions 

 used about the laboratory will commonly reveal the 

 source of a perplexing flagellate. 



Hegner and Becker (1922) and Hill (1926) have 

 recommended the culture method as a practical meas- 

 ure for routine diagnosis or field surveys. The need 

 for such methods in medical practice is not impres- 

 sive; the greater need is for careful routine practices 

 in stool examination and careful identification of the 

 discovered organism. Culture methods, even yet, 

 are crude at best, and they are not easy of application. 



