INTORNO AD ALCUNI PROTISTI ENDOPARASSITICI. 201 



"Protomyxomyces coprinarius . . . This parasite appears to be clo- 

 sely related to the organisms included within the Protist groups 

 of Protomonadinae and Myxomycetes, and in certain respects 

 seems to represent a connecting link between them ... Its im- 

 mature forms occur parasitically as normal inmates of the di- 

 gestive canal in certain of the lower animals (vacca, cavallo)... 

 Normal human excreta do not form a medium in which any 

 farther developement of the parasitic elements outside the host- 

 body can occur . . . On the contrary, the normal series of fer- 

 mentative changes through which the excreta pass after exit 

 from the body ensures the complete destruction of the parasitic 

 elements ... No such destructive effect, however, is exerted by 

 the changes occuring during the decomposition of the excreta 

 in certain lower animals — specially cows and horses; and 

 here the parasitic elements on their escape from the body un- 

 dergo farther processes of developement resulting in the produc- 

 tion of reproductive bodies securing the continuance and diffu- 

 sion of the species. 



u Such excretal matters, therefore, serve as a Constant source 

 whence parasitic elements may be transferred to the bodies of 

 the other animals. 



" Human excreta whicli have passed through the initiai pro- 

 cesses of decomposition, and which have thus become alkaline, 

 allow of the continued existence and multiplication of elements 

 of the parasite which may then obtain access to them, and may 

 thus serve as a second centre of reproduction .. . The introduc- 

 tion of the reproductive elements of the parasite into human 

 body is mainly effected through the medium of the air . . . The 

 introduction of the reproductive elements per se seems to be 

 quite innocuous.. . „ 



Dilucido alcune di queste proposizioni, citando qualche altro 

 luogo del medesimo autore: 



"... While fresh cow duDg is relatively deficient of bacteria, 

 it is by no means devoid of distinct organisms generally. On 

 the contrary we find it almost invariably containing a very large 



