38 



tertian rings, especially in the tropics, pigment may 

 be quite absent, (d) It is extremely easy even with 

 the keenest attention to overlook young parasites, 

 hence for diagnosis a stained specimen is the best. 



2. Large Parasites. It is clear that the cell is 

 occupied by a hyaline body, a parasite ; and the pig- 

 ment often in motion, in some cases extremely fine, 

 is obvious on careful examination. 



3. Crescents and Spherical Bodies (Fig. 9). The 

 former are, as in the stained specimen, characterized 

 by their shape. They are distinct, fat, plump-looking 

 bodies, unmistakable when once seen. They always 

 have, besides, a central clump of distinct pigment. 

 Stretching across between each end of the crescent is 

 seen the curved edge of the red cell. The spherical 

 bodies also possess this definite, easily seen pigment 

 mass. 



4. Pigmented Leucocytes. A body should not be 

 diagnosed as a pigmented leucocyte unless it is first 

 clearly made out that the body is a leucocyte, i.e., 

 possesses a distinct nucleus and cell substance. The 

 pigment may consist of one or more black spicules or 

 larger clumps evidently lying in the protoplasm. 



An epithelial cell is a flat-looking cell with a 

 relatively small nucleus. Adherent skin pigment has 

 not the fine acicular or granular character of melanin, 

 and does not lie in the protoplasm (Fig. 7). 



BODIES IN FRESH FILMS THAT MAY BE MISTAKEN FOR 



PARASITES 



I. Facuoles.Vacuoles and cracks have not the 

 opaque look of parasites. The former cannot be 

 focussed sharply, they e open out.' Cracks have often 



