PARASITIC PROTOZOA IN RI^LATION TO THE WAR. 



305 



Coccidiosis in birds has been successfully treated by Fantham 

 with catechu, and this drug might be tried in cases of human 

 intestinal coccidiosis. Emetine may possibly be of service. 



Intestinal Ciliates. 



Balantidiiim coll is the chief causal agent of ciliate dysentery, 

 The parasite is relatively large, with an oval body, 6o/a to lOOfx 

 (or even 200/>t) long by 5o,a to jo^u broad. There is a funnel- 

 shaped cytostome or cell-mouth at one pole (Fig. 13). The 



Fig. 13. 



organism has a niacronucleus. a micronucleus. and two contractile 

 vacuoles. A cytopyge or cell-anus is also present. Occasionally 

 ingested red l)lood-corpuscles are found in the endoplasm. The 

 parasites form round cysts. 



A smaller species, Balaiifidiinu minutitm, is also known. 

 These parasites were occasionally found last year ( 1916) on the 

 Macedonian front. 



Balanti<ha occur in the large intestine of man, and in the 

 rectum of the domestic pig. The parasites are able to penetrate 

 the iniestinal walls of man an_d give rise to ulcers, though these 

 are rare in pigs. Epidemics have also been recorded in monkeys. 



Cases of balantidiasis occur in various parts of the world, 

 especially among swineherds, farm hands dealing with pigs, pork 

 butchers and persons engaged in similar occupations. Personal 

 cleanliness of such people is, then, of the greatest im|X)rtance, 



