OF THE ALIMENTARY TRACT 153 



analysis of the work of others, forces one to reason- 

 ably retain an open mind. There exists at the present 

 no definite evidence of the pathogenicity of this 

 organism; most positive evidence is opposed. On 

 the other hand, however, there exists no definite 

 proof that it may not cause harm to its host. Tri- 

 chomoniasis, then, means at the present only the state 

 of carrying Trichomonas. Dobell (1921) is horri- 

 fied by the term. Perhaps it was a premature desig- 

 nation of a state not sufficiently proven, but if it is 

 never proven as a disease state the term will never be 

 used or needed. 



TREATMENT 



To speak of treatment, either preventive or cura- 

 tive, of an infection, when obviously it is not known 

 whether it should be treated, is also premature. 



Prevention of the spread of the parasite apparently 

 needs particularly the proper disposal of human ex- 

 creta, the prevention of its use as fertilizer for gar- 

 den stuff, sterilization by some such agent as 0.5 to 

 1% lysol in case of lack of proper sewage disposal, 

 the control of flies, the protection of excreta and food 

 from them, and more careful personal hygiene. The 

 fly and the human being of fly habits are the sources 

 of spread. 



The writer knows of no specific treatment which 

 may be depended upon to eliminate Trichomonas 

 hominis'irom the intestine. 



Various drugs have from time to time been claimed 



