TEINAL DISTOMATOSIS. 
^"eIlal distomatosis is known as bilharziosis, or Egyptian hematuria. 
It is caused b}" flukes of the genus Schistosoma. As a matter of fact, 
the flukes themselves seem to be comparatively harmless; it is their 
sharp-pointed eggs which do the 
injury. At least three (import- 
ed) cases have been diagnosed in 
the United States, and the dis- 
ease is said to exist in Cuba and 
Porto Kico. 
Clinical diagnosis. — ]\lake 
microscopic (iow power) exami- 
nation of fresh urine and feces 
to find the characteristic eggs 
or embiyos; examine particu- 
larly the flocculi and clots found 
in the urine. In doubtful cases, 
have patient micturate and ex- 
amine the last few drops forced 
out b}" straining. 
Symptoms. — If ova are con- 
fined chiefly to urogenital sys- 
tem : Hematuria, pains in lumbar 
region, left iliac fossa, thigh, or 
f vulva, either spontaneous or at 
. micturition; cystitis, vesical cal- 
" cuius, urinary fistulae, vaginal 
tumors, nephritis. If ova are 
confined chiefly to rectum: 
Bloody stools, diarrhea, prolaps 
of rectum, papilliform growth 
which ma\" require surgical in- 
terference. 
I Treatment, — Favorable re- 
I suits are claimed from repeated doses of male fern; some authors 
!. consider specific treatment futile; practicalhy treatment is the same as 
' for chronic cystitis; occasional^ surgical interference for polj^poid 
growths. 
Fig. 84.— Male and female specimens of the Human 
Blood Fluke {Schistosoma hsematdb\um ) , enlarged. 
X 12. (After Looss, 1896, pi. 11, fig. 107.) 
14167— No. 17—04 4 
49 
