OF THE ALIMENTARY TRACT 145 



Smithies (1926) found 2% of 3780 patients hav- 

 ing some gastro-intestinal disturbance to harbor Tri- 

 chomonas hominis. 



Thomas and Baumgartner (1925) found only 

 0.26% infestation of 1122 inmates of a New York 

 state school for feeble-minded women. 



Hegner (1925) found 20.6% of 286 patients in 

 hospitals of Central America to harbor the parasite, 

 this from only one examination. 



Hill and Hill (1927) found it in 20.9% of children 

 of pre-school age in Porto Rico. 



The writer (1926) found 12.5% of 1040 cases of 

 chronic disease having some reference to the gastro- 

 intestinal tract to show Trichomonas homiJiis on 

 about one examination per person. It is believed 

 that more than 10%, probably nearer 20%, of the 

 inhabitants of w^arm countries will show Trichom- 

 onas hominis on correct examination. 



It seems probable (Lynch, 1928) that Trichom- 

 onas infestation of the intestine is more related to 

 rural life and to warmer climates. This opinion, de- 

 duced from comparative studies, is consistent with 

 the life of the organism. It is a naked, non-encyst- 

 ing flagellate of remarkable ability to survive ex- 

 posure. 



On account of its non-encystment it is very sus- 

 ceptible to drought. 



Hegner (1928) finds that a temperature of 41 °F. 

 (5°C.), does not effect the viability of the organism 

 beyond that of room temperature (70°F.), that feces 

 deposited in wet garden soil retained viable organ- 



