140 HUMAN INTESTINAL PROTOZOA IN THE NEAR EAST 



infection of cysts of E. histolytica. Moist droppings of the flies 

 were examined twenty and thirty minutes later, and cysts of E. 

 histolytica were easily found in both examinations. 



(5) Six flies were allowed to feed on faeces containing a mixed 

 infection of E. coli and lamblia cysts. Moist droppings deposited 

 forty minutes later contained cysts of E. coli and lamblia. 



(6) Experiments of the same nature were conducted with 

 Galliphora sp. and Lucilia sp., with similar results. 



(7) Six house-flies were allowed to feed on liquid faeces contain- 

 ing active trichomonas. Moist droplets were passed within five 

 minutes of feeding, and these contained living unaltered trichomonas. 



(8) A small batch of flies were allowed to feed on the faeces of a 

 case containing cysts of lamblia (numerous), and E. histolytica (few) ; 

 after five hours the dried droppings of these flies were examined. 

 Numerous lamblia cysts were found, and in addition a cestode egg 

 (40 by 48 microns), and an operculated trematode egg (20 microns). 

 These flies had been caught near the laboratory where a cat was 

 kept, which was known to be passing similar cestode and trematode 

 eggs in the faeces. 



The above experiments were conducted with ordinary wild flies. 

 They were placed in glass globes covered with mosquito netting, 

 and were allowed to starve for a few hours before the faeces were 

 offered to them. This was done by placing a small quantity on a 

 cover-glass and sliding it under the jar. When the flies had fed 

 it was removed. To obtain the droppings before they dry it is 

 necessary to watch the flies carefully as the droppings dry very 

 quickly, especially in a hot country where the observations were 

 made. A long drawn-out capillary pipette is used and some saline 

 is run into the fine capillary end of this. So soon as a fly is seen 

 to deposit a dropping a tiny drop of saline is blown on to it and it 

 is then touched with the capillary end of the pipette, when it will 

 run up into the capillary tube. As much of the contents of the 

 capillary tube as is necessary is then blown on to a slide and 

 examined under a cover-glass. If there is any doubt iodine solution 

 can be added. 



This method of examination of moist droppings is very useful 

 for the control of the passage of infectious material through flies, 

 and it could very readily be adapted for bacterial work in connection 

 with the passage of typhoid, dysentery and other bacteria through 

 the flies' intestine. 



(c) Examination of Wild Flies taken in various Localities. 

 The main result of our examination of wild flies, as published in 



