AM@B& IN INTESTINES IN CASES OF GOITRE IN GILGIT. 723 
Observations on the Amcebe in the Intestines of 
Persons Suffering from Goitre in Gilgit. 
By 
Robert McCarrison, M.D., M.R.C.P.Lond., 
Captain Indian Medical Service. 
With 24 Text-figures. 
My researches on the etiology of endemic goitre have led 
me to the conclusion that in all probability the organism 
which is responsible for the production of this disease is 
to be found in the intestinal tract. It is necessary, therefore, 
to give some account of the Protozoa which are so frequently 
present in this situation. This paper deals only with the 
organisms of the Amoeba group, and simply gives a brief 
description and figures of the amcebe found. It does not 
claim to be a complete account of their life-histories. While 
no definite statement can be made as to the pathogenicity of 
these amcebe, their possible importance is obvious when it 
is remembered that goitre is due to an organism carried by 
water. 
The examination of the fresh feces of goitrous individuals 
was undertaken solely for the purpose of determining the 
presence or absence of Protozoa. This object was found to 
be greatly facilitated by the addition of a small quantity of 
iodine-water to the specimen, which caused the amcebz to 
stand out clearly from surrounding objects. One hundred 
and three cases were examined in this way; amcebe were 
present in eighty-seven. In forty-eight cases they were 
found in large numbers, in twenty-seven in moderate numbers, 
and in twelve only after considerable time had been spent in 
