Volume I 
OCTOBER 
No. 3 
BILHARZIOSIS IN SOUTH AFRICA. 
By G. A. TURNER, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H. Aberdeen. 
Medical Officer to the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association, Ltd. 
* 
A few years ago it was believed that there was only one form of 
trematode responsible for the pathological conditions included in the 
term Bilharziosis, namely a worm, known as Schistosoma haematobium, 
which has had numerous other synonyms, but as I am dealing with the 
subject purely from a South African point of view, I need merely 
mention that given it by Dr John Harley, namely Distoma capense. 
It is now recognised that there are several varieties of Bilharzial 
parasites. 
In South Africa, I have only found evidences of Schistosomum 
haematobium in both its vesical and intestinal manifestations. Schis¬ 
tosomum japonicum has not come under my notice. 
In this country the disease caused by these parasites is an important 
one, especially among the native races; far more important than 
I think is generally believed. So many medical men, born in this 
country, have in their youth passed blood-stained urine, or have been 
accustomed to hear of friends doing so, without suffering apparent 
serious consequences, that they are liable to look upon it as an affection 
of the bladder only, and to attach little importance to it, forgetting 
possibly that it may attack other organs, frequently with serious 
consequences. 
In many parts of the Cape Colony and the Transvaal, a large 
number of the European youths contract the disease. School boys in 
these parts have competitions as to who can pass a urine of the deepest 
colour, and the boy most seriously infected is considered more fortunate 
than his fellows. 
Doubtless most of the European boys in Cape Colony, Natal and 
the Transvaal get rid of all symptoms at about 20 years of age, the 
disease dying out, possibly because the patient is removed to some 
Parasitology i 
13 
