(8) 
III. H^MAMCEBID^ IN FREETOWN. 
7. The Haemamcebidae in Intermediary Hosts.—Duggan studied the human parasites 
of Sierra Leone some years ago [17]. He found only Hamomenas prtecox (with one exception — a 
case of Hamamceha vivax). Heemomeyiai malaria was not observed by him. He says " Crescents 
were found in varying numbers in most of the cases." His results are based on the study of 
" about 400 cases." 
Our own examinations of the blood of patients were made solely with a view to obtaining 
a basis for further researches as to the definitive hosts of the parasites ; and it will be understood 
that we contemplated no morphological or pathological studies. Search was confined almost 
entirely to soldiers, few cases of fever among the civil population being procurable by us for study. 
The barracks at Wilberforce and Tower Hill afforded excellent fields for investigation. It should 
be noted that the men in these barracks belonged to West India regiments — that is, were natives 
of the West Indies who had been serving in Sierra Leone only for a short period. 
Tlie troops at Wilberforce had arrived there some months previously from a very malarious 
part of the colony, and continued to suffer severely from fever. They numbered about 320 men. 
We were informed that out of these no less than 195 men had come to hospital for fever in one 
month (July) ; although, as most of the men were not ill enough for admission, the " admission " 
rate was much lower. We examined the blood of a large number of the men, both in hospital 
and out of it, and estimated that the parasites were to be found in about a quarter of them taken 
at random. The species found were all of those now recognised in most parts of the world. 
H. ynalay'ia was the commonest ; but cases of H. vivax and H. pracox also abounded, being 
about equal in number. Cases of double infection were frequently observed. The prevalence of 
the disease was at its height at the time of our arrival, although quinine had been and was being 
sedulously given both for treatment and prophylaxis ; and it was evident that such a number of 
cases could not be attributed alone to relapses, but that fresh infections were occurring at the time. 
At Tower Hill there was much less fever. We attempted no estimate of the number of 
men in whom parasites could be found. Parasites could, however, be easily detected in the 
hospital cases. They belonged almost exclusively to H. pracox ; though two or three cases of 
H. malaria and H. vivax were observed. 
There were very few cases among the troops on Mount Aureole and Kortright Hill. Of 
three cases examined in the hospital on Mount Aureole, one contained H. malaria ; another the 
melanin of H. »ialaria ; while the third was negative on a cursory search. 
