AMCEB.E OF THE INTESTINAL TRACT. 91 



it appears to be composed of very minute granules. 

 When the parasite encysts, the ectoplasm is replaced 

 by a refractive, smooth, or slightly wrinkled cyst wall, 

 impervious to staining solutions and apparently of 

 very dense structure. In some instances definite 

 layers of a very refractive material compose the wall 

 of the cyst, but generally it has a distinct double 

 outline. 



The endoplasm, constituting the greater portion 

 of the cytoplasm, is of a finely granular structure and 

 an examination with a high power lens shows it to be 

 composed of a delicate network enclosing a fluid 

 medium containing multitudes of fine granules. In 

 most amoebae numerous bacteria are observed in the 

 endoplasm, as well as crystals derived from the feces, 

 and in some organisms one, or perhaps two, small 

 vacuoles. During reproduction by schizogony the 

 endoplasm contains from 2 to 8 oval, slightly refrac- 

 tive bodies, which may be mistaken for vacuoles, but 

 which are really the daughter amoebae. The mor- 

 phology of the parasite during this stage of develop- 

 ment has led to the erroneous statement that Enta- 

 mceba coli contains numerous vacuoles. 



During the encysted stage the endoplasm is 

 homogeneous in appearance and contains from 2 to 

 8 round, refractive bodies, representing the daughter 

 amoeba?. 



