AMCEBJE OF THE INTESTINAL TRACT. 



within the latter organism, I have never seen any 

 evidence indicating that the amoebae were able to 

 digest them. I believe that in Entamceba coli the 

 engulfing of red corpsucles is purely accidental, and 

 that the cells are extruded without being digested. 



The Protoplasm. The appearance of the proto- 

 plasm varies considerably with the age of the para- 

 site. In the small or young amoebse, the protoplasm 

 is finely granular in appearance and the ectoplasm 

 and endoplasm can seldom be distinguished unless the 

 organism is in motion, but in the larger and older 

 parasites this distinction can frequently be made even 

 when motility is absent. The protoplasm contains a 

 nucleus situated to one side of the centre of the para- 

 site, which is generally invisible. One or more 

 vacuoles are present, as well as crystals, bacteria, 

 pigment granules and amorphous material. 



The Cytoplasm. In the fully developed parasite 

 the cytoplasm is divided into two distinct portions, 

 the ectoplasm and the endoplasm. The ectoplasm 

 comprises about one-third of the cytoplasm and is 

 perfectly hyaline and glass-like in appearance. If a 

 high power lens is used it appears to be composed of 

 dense material containing innumerable very minute 

 granules. It is very refractile, much more so than 

 the endoplasm, and is easily recognized. The ecto- 

 plasm gives one the impression of a firm structure 



