20 The Philippine Journal of Science 1923 



These figures are of only general interest. In the first place, 

 emetine hydrochloride was given to the infected animals by 

 injection per rectum, whereas this alkaloid is usually given in- 

 tramuscularly in man. The figures for patients are based, for 

 convenience, on an average body weight of 60 kilograms. The 

 initial dose in man of 2 milligrams per kilogram (that is, 2 

 grains) on the first day of treatment is slightly larger than the 

 routine usually recommended. However, it is the quantity that 

 we ordinarily employ ; but, even with this amount, the symptoms 

 are not checked as promptly as with the 10-milligram dose used 

 in animals. The maximal initial dose in man, 4 milligrams per 

 kilogram, represents the dosage occasionally used by Rogers (13) 

 in severe cases; that is, 4 grains on the first day of treatment. 

 It has not come into general use, even in especially severe cases. 

 The figure of 18 milligrams per kilogram for the total quantity 

 in man for the first course of treatment is taken from Wenyon 

 and O'Connor's (18) recommendation of 1.5 grains of emetine 

 hydrochloride for twelve consecutive days. 



1. The treatment of amoebic dysentery in kittens is seriously 

 complicated by the acuteness of the amcebic process and by the 

 secondary bacterial invasion. The disease in young kittens is 

 not strictly comparable to amcebic dysentery in man, on account 

 of the differences in pathology of the two conditions. 



2. Suitable conditions for experimental therapy can be se- 

 cured by infecting adult cats with a moderately virulent strain 

 of Entamoeba histolytica. In order to secure successful results 

 an early diagnosis is imperative, and vigorous treatment must 

 be instituted without delay. 



3. Infections with E. histolytica were produced in cats and 

 treated successfully with emetine and with quinine. Papaverine 

 was inefficacious. Emetine and papaverine have certain active 

 chemical groupings in common; namely, the four methoxy radi- 

 cals. Quinine has one methoxy radical ; its general structure is 



. unlike papaverine and, presumably, unlike emetine. 



4. In the treatment of cats with quinine very large doses were 

 required; but, in contrast to emetine, repetitions of the thera- 

 peutic dose could be tolerated for many days. 



5. Experimental amcebic dysentery is a somewhat artificial 

 condition; nevertheless, it responds to emetine in a manner 

 similar to the action of emetine in spontaneous dysentery in man. 



