DISEASES CAUSED BY PROTOZOA. 
117 
The stools contain the amebse and to prevent the dis¬ 
ease from spreading, they should be disinfected with a 
5 per cent, solution of carbolic acid. Carriers should 
be isolated. 
The diagnosis of amebic dysentery is made by 
finding amebse in the stools. This is done by examin- 
Fig. 16.—Ameba coli. From dysenteric stool. (Zeiss Apochr., 
1; oil immersion, Yu.) (After Losch.) 
ing the mucus or pus in the stool under the microscope. 
If the vegetative form is looked for the material must 
be kept warm in order to preserve the motility. The 
encysted form is seen best in stained preparations. 
The disease is of long duration but much success fol¬ 
lows the ingestion of ipecac or its active principle, 
emetin. 
