44 
Philippine Journal of Science 
1920 
We do not wish to be understood as generalizing on the 
above data; but we would suggest, as have other investigators, 
that the whole subject of eosinophilia in its relation to parasitic 
infestations needs thorough reinvestigation at the hands of 
competent parasitologists and hasmatologists. We believe that 
entirely too much has been taken for granted regarding the 
eosinophile count. 
Notwithstanding these particular observations, as included 
in our series, give us really very little definite basis for con- 
clusions, we regard Trichuris as a parasite that is potentially 
harmful. In itself we regard it as dangerous, while we think 
our data show that its partnership with Ascaris constitutes a 
combination that is decidedly inimical to the comfort and wel- 
fare of children at least. While we are not entirely prepared 
to concur unqualifiedly in the views of Strong (51) who says that 
“the symptoms and sign of trichocephaliasis are practically 
identical with those of ankylostomiasis, the only difference 
being that of severity,” still we believe his statement furnishes 
food for serious consideration. At the same time we must bear 
in mind that Strong was dealing with American children, while 
all our patients were Filipinos. This is a distinction that may 
be found to form the basis of the difference of opinion between 
Strong and ourselves. Strong cites five cases in which he con- 
tends that Trichuris “can give rise to very annoying and even 
severe symptoms such as severe anaemia, dirt eating, etc.” He 
adds that eosinophilia is of constant occurrence and lymphad- 
enopathy is fairly frequent just as in ankylostomiasis and 
ascariasis.” ® 
" Apropos of Strong’s statements is a case in which the senior author 
was consulted just as this paper was being’ written. It was presented 
by an American boy, 2 years old, anasmic and more or less emaciated. The 
child was nervously irritable and generally run down, and was about to 
be sent into the hills for recuperation. When the stool was first examined, 
it was impossible to apply the cover glass closely to the preparation on 
the slide because of an accumulation of grit and dirt contained in the 
feces. The mother was questioned, and she said that it was practically 
impossible to prevent the child from eating dirt. She said that unless 
he was watched carefully he would take dirt from the flower pots on the 
porch and swallow quantities of it. Hookworm was, of course, suspected, 
but repeated concentration of the stool failed to yield the ova. There 
was, however, a massive infection with Trichuris, an infection with Tri- 
chomonas, and a few unfertilized Ascaris eggs were found in one of the 
centrifuged specimens. In the absence of any effective treatment for 
Trichuris, and in view of the poor physical condition of the patient, we 
bespeak a rather trying period in the life of this young man. 
