14 The Philippine Journal of Science mt 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 



1. These tests have determined quantitatively within narrow 

 limits the balantidicidal action of the substances tested. 



2. It has been demonstrated that the compounds of arsenic 

 and antimony, the analine dyes, ipecac and its alkaloid emetine, 

 and quinine, substances which are employed more or less suc- 

 cessfully in the treatment of other protozoan diseases, possess 

 little or no balantidicidal value. 



3. The salts of the heavy metals, especially mercury and silver, 

 have been found to be eminently balantidicidal. 



4. It is possible that some of the inorganic salts of mercury 

 or silver, administered by mouth, or by subcutaneous or intra- 

 veneous injection, might be efficient in the treatment of balanti- 

 diasis. The salts of mercury are successfully employed in the 

 treatment of certain spirochaete infections, and when given 

 internally are eliminated in part by the mucosa of the large 

 intestine; consequently, the mercury would be brought in direct 

 cbntact with the infected tissues in balantidiasis. 



5. The application of these inorganic salts of mercury and 

 silver to the local treatment of balantidiasis is rendered imprac- 

 ticable by the facts that they are precipitated by albumin, and 

 consequently possess little power of penetrating the tissues, and 

 that they are relatively toxic for man. 



6. The organic compounds of silver are not precipitated by 

 albumin or, if precipitated, form soluble compounds that should 

 be capable of penetrating the tissues, and they are relatively 

 nontoxic for man. 



7. Quantitative tests have demonstrated that certain of these 

 organic compounds of silver possess a balantidicidal activity 

 as great, in proportion to the amount of silver contained, as 

 silver nitrate. 



8. The practical value of these organic compounds of silver 

 in the treatment of balantidiasis can be determined only through 

 clinical experience. 



LITERATURE CITED 



Bowman, F. W. Two cases of Balantidium coli infection. Phil. Joum. 



Scl, Sec. B (1909), 4, 417-422. 

 Idem. A case of dysentery caused by Balantidium coli with coincident 



filarial infarction of the spleen. Phil. Joum. Sci., Sec. B (1911), 6, 



147-153. 

 Glaessner, K. Ueber Balantidienenteritis. Centralbl. f. Bakt., etc., Orig. 



(1908), 47, 351-362. 



