10 HUMAN INTESTINAL PROTOZOA IN THE NEAR EAST 



PART I.* 



THE INCIDENCE OF PROTOZOAL INFECTIONS AMONGST BRITISH 

 TROOPS AND NATIVES IN EGYPT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE 

 TO THE CARRIER PROBLEM OF AMCEBIC DYSENTERY. 



The examinations for intestinal protozoa were carried out upon 

 several classes of men, including healthy British troops on full duty 

 in camps round Alexandria, healthy British and British West 

 Indian cooks employed in the same localities, British convalescents 

 in the convalescent camp at Mustapha, healthy native prisoners in 

 the Hadra Prison, British prisoners in Gabarri Prison, the per- 

 manent Royal Army Medical Corps staff of the Convalescent Depot 

 at Mustapha, the Royal Army Medical Corps staff of the Orwa-el- 

 Waska Section of the 19th General Hospital, and all the cases 

 admitted to the Orwa-el-Waska Hospital for dysentery and other 

 intestinal disorders, the majority of the latter coming from various 

 stations in Egypt, but some being invalids from Mesopotamia. 

 The various findings in these several groups will be discussed below, 

 but first of all we will describe the methods of our examinations and 

 the value of these in determining a correct percentage of the various 

 infections. 



Method of collecting Material. 



In the case of hospital patients there is no difficulty in obtaining 

 samples of the stool for examination. We arranged that the entire 

 stool was brought for inspection in a bed-pan, a much more satis- 

 factory procedure than when only a small sample is sent from the 

 ward in a tube. An inspection of the entire stool gives a much 

 more accurate idea of the condition of the patient. When only 

 small samples are sent small quantities of blood and mucus are 

 liable to be overlooked and one fails to get a correct notion of the 

 character of the entire stool. In order to do this it is essential to 

 have some room or lavatory near the laboratory to which pans can 

 be brought for inspection. 



When it comes to the collection of material from men in camps 

 or prisons much greater difficulties have to be encountered. These 

 can only be surmounted by interesting the men in the proceedings 

 and it is essential to have some reliable person in authority to carry 



* Reprinted from the Journal of tlic Boyal Army Medical Corps, January, 1917. 



