OF THE ALIMENTARY TRACT 175 



In addition to the transmission of the parasite 

 from personal contact, the spread of the cysts from 

 exposed excreta by flies no doubt takes place. 



The writer (1928) found Chilomastix mesnili to 

 be more related to city life, 80% of its hosts in his 

 study being city dwellers as compared to 56% of 

 Trichomonas carriers and to 70% of the flagellate- 

 free. Males wTre a bit more frequently infected; 

 in a clientele of about 60 females to 40 males, 51% 

 of Chilomastix hosts w^ere males. Perhaps men come 

 more into contact with it by being in contact with 

 more people. 



As the age of indivickials increases so does the 

 frequency of the parasite, only 11% of Chilomastix 

 carriers were below forty years of age and 55% be- 

 low fifty, w^hile of Trichomonas carriers 53% were 

 below forty and 83% below^ sixty. This is consistent 

 with the finding of Thomas and Baumgartner. The 

 organism seems comparatively tenacious as a parasite. 

 Although it varies in numbers from time to time it 

 seems to maintain itself in the intestine for long or 

 indefinite periods. One host is known to have har- 

 bored it for a period of fourteen years. 



Of the Chilomastix carriers 40% showed a condition 

 of gastric anacidity, w^hile this was the case in but 

 19% of the flagellate-free. On the other hand, only 

 10% of them had an excess of gastric hydrochloric 

 acid at the time of examination, in contrast to 25% 

 of the free. 



There was diarrhoea at the time of examination 



