RESULTS OF THREE HUNDRED EXAMINATIONS OF F/ECES 

 WITH REFERENCE TO THE PRESENCE OF AMOEB/E. 1 



Microscopic examination of faces was made a part of the regular 

 laboratory routine at the Canacao Naval Hospital in October, 1907, for 

 the purpose of obtaining statistics as to the frequency of amcebEe and other 

 intestinal parasites in the stools of officers and enlisted men of the Navy. 

 Three hundred of these examinations were recorded in the latter part of 

 November and the percentages given below are based on the findings in 

 these cases. Records were also kept of blood examinations made from 

 the first 200 patients whose fasces were examined, for the purpose of 

 detecting or confirming any relation between blood findings and intes- 

 tinal parasites. An occult blood test was made from the last three 

 hundred cases with a portion of the fasces. 



In order to make these stool examinations as nearly under the same 

 conditions as possible, the following routine was carried out: 



Oil the morning after admission a saline cathartic was given to those 

 patients whose condition did not contraindicate its use. The first liquid stool 

 was then sent to the laboratory for examination. Blood films from the patients 

 whose faeces had been examined were then prepared, a differential white count 

 made, the presence of parasites recorded, and in cases which indicated other 

 blood disturbances, further tests were made, such as estimation of haemoglobin, 

 counts of red cells, etc. The chloroform, tincture of guaiae and turpentine 

 test for occult blood was made in the last hundred cases examined. 



It has been the opinion at this hospital that a distinction between the 

 so-called Entameba hystolotica and Amoeba coli, based on the points of 

 difference first enumerated by Schaudinn, is practically impossible where 

 specimens of crude fasces only are examined. While organisms showing 

 these distinguishing characteristics may perhaps be recognized where 

 cultures are used and a comparative study made of them, the fact 

 remains that it is extremely difficult to pick out these supposed points of 

 difference with any degree of accuracy on film preparations of faecal 

 matter. Therefore, no attempt at differentiation has been made. Further- 

 more, as the fascal mass often contains cells which, under the microscope, 



1 Read at the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Philippine Islands Medical Associa- 

 tion, Manila, P. I., February 27, 1908. 



2 Passed assistant surgeon, United States Navy. 



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