212 CASTELLANI AND CHALMERS. 



as vigorously as it did four months ago. We made subcultures of the original 

 strain every three or four days. 



Nutrose-agar (2 to 4 per cent). — Probably this is the best medium. The 

 flagellate remains alive for more than two weeks in the water of condensation, 

 and in this medium it appears to be capable of being taken in subculture for an 

 indefinite number of transplants. The tubes should not be capped. We generally 

 make subcultures of the parasite twice a week. , 



Broth peptone water. — The flagellate dies out within two or three days in the 

 tubes inoculated directly from the stools or from cultures. 



Albumin salt solution. — The parasite may be kept alive for a long time in 

 Grassi's albumin salt solution (albumin, 10 cubic centimeters; 5 per cent salt 

 solution, 90 cubic centimeters). 



Nutrose broth (2 to Jf per cent). — The germ multiplies and is capable of 

 being transplanted for an indefinite number of times. 



CONCLUSION. . 



In the stools of patients in Ceylon suffering from agchylostomiasis we 

 have observed a flagellate which is pear-shaped or rounded, measuring 

 from 8 to 20 p. in diameter, possessing two flagella, an undulating 

 membrane, and capable of amoeboid movements. It is easily cultivated 

 together with bacteria on several media, the best of which is apparently 

 nutrose-agar or nutrose broth. The developmental stages and the methods 

 of reproduction have not as yet been studied and therefore the exact 

 zoological position of the parasite can not be defined. We propose to 

 classify it provisionally under the genus Bodo and to name it Bodo 

 asiaticus. 



In two cases in which Bodo asiaticus was present another flagellate was also 

 observed. We were not able to cultivate this organism. It is rounded or fusiform, 

 measuring 10 to 15 p. in length, with one flagellum originating at each pole. In 

 fresh preparations it is actively motile. It may present vacuoles, but these are 

 not contractile. In stained preparations a well-marked, though small nucleus 

 which is rich in chromatin, can be distinguished. 



