150 PARASITIC AMCEB^E OF MAN. 



tended to the muscular coat the amoebae are found 

 lying in the intermuscular septa and in this situation 

 they may be observed arranged in rows and, where 

 the tissue is not compact, scattered in irregular 

 groups. In whatever region they are present, how- 

 ever, there is always evidence of an inflammatory 

 process. 



It is difficult to say how much of the pathologic 

 process present is actually due to the amoebae, for 

 after the formation of ulcers we must remember that 

 we are dealing with a mixed infection. Multitudes 

 of bacteria are present which may have much to do 

 with the morphology of the lesions, but the fact re- 

 mains that these lesions are not the same in appear- 

 ance as those produced by bacteria alone, thus indicat- 

 ing that the characteristic picture of amoebic infection 

 is in all probability due to the specific action of the 

 amoebae. 



There are three lesions present in this disease 

 which are absolutely diagnostic: 



1. The nodular thickenings situated in the mucous 

 membrane which, when incised, are found to be filled 

 with gelatinous material. 



2. Ulcers having greatly thickened walls raised 

 from the surrounding mucous membrane and present- 

 ing shaggy, yellowish-brown edges, which are always 

 undermined. These ulcers are often covered by 



