THE PARTHENOGENESIS OF THE FEMALE CRESCENT BODY. 



By H. M. Neeg. 2 



As is well known, the parthenogenesis of the tertian gamete was first 

 observed by Schaudinn in a patient, Mrs. Kossel, and was accurately 

 described by him. This discovery is very important as it gives, a clear 

 and natural explanation of the cause of relapses in malaria, particularly 

 in persons who have long since left the Tropics and are no longer exposed 

 to active infection. This observation of Schaudinn was afterwards con- 

 firmed by Doctor Von Hilst Karrewly and then by Doctors Merz and 

 Bluml. 



It seemed highly probable that a metamorphosis of the tropical and 

 quartan parasites would occur in a similar manner and should be sought 

 for in a similar way. When I was in charge of the civil medical service 

 at Koeta-Eadja, during the hours of free consultation, I often had the 

 opportunity of preparing blood-smears from natives who had contracted 

 fever and had never been treated with quinine. Many of these patients 

 were suffering from a severe infection with tropical malarial fever. For 

 a long time my investigations were fruitless. However, two and a half 

 years ago I examined blood-smears from a Bengalese and discovered the 

 particular forms of parasites shown in Plate I, figs. 1, 2, and 3. 



After an exhaustive consideration of every conceivable hypothesis, I 

 finally came to the conclusion that I probably had encountered parthe- 

 nogenesis in the female tropical gamete. However, I hesitated to publish 

 such a discovery without accurate verification and confirmation by com- 

 petent authorities on malaria; therefore, I took the opportunity, during 

 my furlough, to have my slides examined in Europe at Bordeaux and 

 Hamburg. 



In the former city, Professor Le Dantec declared the forms represented by figs. 

 1 and 2 to be sporulation parasites, but quite different from those which are 

 found in the common schizogenesis of the tropical parasites. However, he went 

 no further than to state that in every ease they were derived from a gamete. 



1 Read at the first meeting of the Far Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine, 

 held at Manila, March 10, 1910. 



- Medical officer of the first class, delegate from Her Majesty's Government of 

 the Netherlands Indies. 



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