Ill 
R. K. S. Lim 
Giemsa in the same way as a Spironema (stains bluish), but on the other hand, 
it is about the size of a Treponema and, like it, has regular spirals. Its exact 
position in the group must be left undetermined until more is known regarding 
its cultural reactions. 
Of the mode of infection, nothing definite can be stated. The organism 
was not found below the pyloric sphincter and is certainly not passed in the 
faeces in a free living condition. Fleas were often found in the gastric content, 
but when examined microscopically (living specimens were also procured 
direct from the body surface), there was nothing to indicate that they were 
the carriers. This part of the investigation was however not sufficiently 
pursued to negative the “ carrier ” possibility. The food (fish, bread and 
milk) does not appear to be responsible for the infection, since animals which 
were recently admitted to the laboratory were fed on the same diet without 
being infected. Taking into consideration the length of time the infected 
animals had been kept in the laboratory, it seems most likely that the infection 
was introduced by a single animal, many months ago, and that this animal 
infected the others. The mode of spread from one animal to another is still 
to be explained. 
I have to thank Professors Ashworth and Ritchie for kindly confirming 
my observations and for helpful suggestions. I am indebted to Professor 
Ritchie for the supply of some of the culture media. 
The expenses of the research were defrayed by a grant from the Earl of 
Moray Fund of the University of Edinburgh. 
SUMMARY. 
1. A parasitic spiral organism averaging 4 to 8^ long, with regular, 
closely set spirals about 0-75/z broad, has been found in the stomach in eight 
cats, none of wdiich showed any obvious signs of gastric disturbance. The 
organisms occurred in the lumina of ducts and glands throughout the stomach, 
and also within the oxyntic cells. They were not seen in any part of the 
intestines except the very beginning of the duodenum, or in any other organ. 
2. They are extremely active, and are readily stained by aniline dyes. 
3. The mode of passage from one animal to another is not known, but 
food and faeces may be eliminated as possible sources of infection. 
REFERENCES. 
Lim (1919). Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci. lxiii. 541. 
Lucet (1910). Comptes Rendus, cli. 260. 
Noguchi (1915-16). Harvey Lectures, p. 174. New York. 
- (1918). Journ. Exp. Med. xxvii. 575. 
Parasitology xii 
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