AMCEB^E OF THE INTESTINAL TRACT. 171 



species of amoeba are obtained by feeding the animals 

 with infected fecal material. With this method I 

 have been successful in producing the disease in 8 out 

 of 12 kittens or 66+ per cent, and in every case have 

 demonstrated Entamceba Mstolytica in the feces and 

 in sections of the diseased intestines. The method of 

 experimentation was as follows: 



The kittens were starved for 24 hours, at the end 

 of which time they were given milk containing about 

 5 c.c. of feces in which both motile amoeba? and spores 

 were present; the animals did not object to taking 

 the mixture if they were kept without food for this 

 length of time, but unless this was done they almost 

 invariably refused the infected milk. After feeding, 

 the animals were placed in cages and carefully 

 observed. 



When successful the symptoms consisted of diar- 

 rhoea, rapid emaciation, loss of appetite and strength, 

 severe tenesmus, the animals appearing much dis- 

 tressed while voiding the feces, and finally death from 

 exhaustion. The feces were blood-stained, containing 

 much mucus and multitudes of motile amoebae. 



The period of incubation varied from 7 to 11 

 days, the average being 8 days, so that it may be 

 stated that the period of incubation is shorter in 

 feeding experiments than when the infected material 

 is introduced per rectum. In two of the animals 



