206 PARASITIC AMCEBJE OF MAN. 



diameter. The chromatin becomes arranged in semi- 

 lunar bands crossing the nucleus and eventually an 

 equatorial plate is formed, after which the nucleus 

 divides into two equal portions. The nuclei now 

 undergo similar changes to those described in auto- 

 gamie in Entamceba coli and finally four nuclei are 

 produced representing the nuclei of the four daughter 

 amoebae. 



The cysts are generally spherical in shape and 

 measure 12 microns in diameter, although some are 

 observed as small as 10 microns and as large as 14 

 microns. During the process of encystment a 

 gelatinous membrane is formed having a double out- 

 line. The protoplasm of the cyst at certain stages 

 of development appears reticular, the alveoli being 

 minute in size. Sometimes cysts are observed con- 

 taining three nuclei, but Elmassian considers that 

 these are degenerating organisms. 



Relation to Disease. Elmassian does not give 

 any data regarding the experimental production of 

 dysentery in animals with material containing this 

 species of amoebse, basing his belief in the pathogenic 

 nature of the organism upon its constant occurrence 

 in the feces of patients suffering from diarrhoea and 

 dysentery. From his description it is apparent that 

 this parasite bears a very close resemblance in mor- 

 phology and methods of reproduction to Entamceba 



