TRICHOMONA8. 



693 



a vacuole. Proliferation takes place through con- 

 jugation, binary division and the formation of 

 swarm spores (?) within encysted forms. They 

 abound in fresh water and in infusions of grasses. 



They are not of great parasitic importance, al- significance. 

 though cercomonas has been found in the intes- 

 tines, especially in inflammatory conditions (chol- 

 era, typhoid), in pulmonary gangrene, putrid plu- 

 ritis, and several forms have been observed in other 

 animals. 



It is not yet certain that cercomonas may be an 

 independent cause of enteritis. 



VIII. TRICHOMONAS. 



Rather small, of a general pear-shape, rounded Morphology. 

 or pointed anterior end, and possessing three or 

 four long flagella. When only three flagella are 

 present an undulating membrane surrounds the 

 body like a spiral beginning at the base of the 

 flagella and may prolong itself into a flagellum. 

 The posterior extremity is moderately pointed, a 

 nucleus lies in the anterior end, and toward the 

 posterior are several non-contractile vacuoles. 

 Methods of proliferation unknown (Doflein). 



Two species are found in man. Trichomonas 

 vaginalis: possesses three flagella and an undu- 

 lating membrane, and is of large size (from 15 to 

 25 microns in length). It is found in the vaginal 

 mucus, when of acid reaction, in a large percent- 

 age of women (Dolflein), particularly in vaginal 

 catarrhs. It disappears in an alkaline reaction. 



Trichomonas Jiominis s. intestinalis: also pos- 

 sesses three flagella and an undulating membrane, 

 but is smaller than T. vaginalis. It is found as a 

 parasite in the human intestines, particularly in 



