PROTOZOA FOUND IN BLOOD. 



231 



urine and faeces. The ova are oval and terminate at one end 

 in a process or spine. In some ova this process is directly 

 placed at the centre of one pole, the tenninal spined ova ; in 

 others it is placed a little to the side, the lateral spined ova. 

 The former are supposed to be more frequently found in the 

 bladder, the latter in the rectum. Very often in examining an 

 ovum in a drop of urine or faeces, the contained myracidium or 

 embryo may be seen moving about in the containing shell, 

 which resembles a melon seed in shape. If watched long 

 enough and under favorable conditions, it may be seen to 

 leave its shell and swim free in the fluid by the aid of its cilia. 



FIG. 79. 



Fio. 78. 



Distoma hepaticum (Leuckart). Distoma lanceolatum (X8) and eggs (von Jaksch). 



Another fluke of common finding in the Philippines, and 

 hence of great interest to us, is the Distomum westermanii. It 

 causes epidemic haemoptysis. 



Diagnosis. The diagnosis is made by examining the spu- 

 tum, where the very characteristic eggs are found. They are 

 slightly smaller than those of bilharzia. and have a characteris- 

 tic hood or top to them. Cases of haemoptysis in Chinese residing 

 on the Pacific coast of this country, and believed to be tubercular, 

 have been found to be due to the Paragonum westermanii. 



Other flukes, causing diarrhoea, anaemia, emaciation, and 

 sometimes death in animals, are the Fasciola hepatica (Fig. 

 78) in ruminants, the Distomum lanceolatum, (Fig. 79) in sheep 

 and cattle, and the Distomum felineum in cats. 



