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Schistosomes and Schistosomiasis in India
variety and the typical S. japonicum is that in the former the cuticle is tuber-
culate while in the latter it is smooth. From his previous studies on S.
spindalis and Ornithobilharzia turkestanicum and. of the specimens from
pigs in Calcutta, he concludes that the nature of the cuticle is not of
the specific significance.
Rao and Ayyar in 1933 described a new schistosome from the portal
veins of pigs in Madras which they designated as S. suis. These authors con-
sider that the eggs of S. suis and those that were obtained by Chandler in 1926
in human faeces are identical. If this be a fact, the specific name S. suis
[Rao & Ayyar, 1933] falls into the synonymy of S. incognitum [Chandler,
1926] and not vice versa as imagined by Rao and Ayyar.
Very recently, Rao and Ayyar [1935] have recorded S. incognitum Chandler
[Syn. S. suis Rao and Ayyar] from the faeces of a dog suffering from periodi-
cal dysentery, which was brought from Jubbulpore (Central Provinces) to
Ootacamund (Nilgiris) for treatment.
There are very few records in this country of the indigenous infection of
man with schistosomes. Powell [1903] reported a case of a native of Bombay
who had never left the Bombay Presidency. Sewell [1904] recorded a
case of Schistosoma haematobium occurring in a private of the 1st South Wales
Borderer's. The patient had been four years in India and had never been to
Egypt or South Africa. Christophers and Stephens [1905] mention a case of
schistosome infection in a Madras native who passed eggs similar to those of
S. bovis but somewhat larger and also eggs said to be indistinguishable from
those of S. haematobium. Montgomery [1906] remarks that human schisto-
somes can live in this country. Chandler [1926] recorded the presence of
schistosome ova with a subterminal spine in the faeces of a. man from Bengal.
Apart from these few records there has been no authentic proof of the existence
of schistosome infection in man in this country. Several workers, however,
have published from time to time, a record of schistosomiasis among people,
particularly soldiers or pilgrims who had visited or stayed in areas of endemic
infection: such workers being Hatch [1887], Powell [1903], Wardrop [1906],
Crosthwait [1907], Milton [1914], Curjel [1918], Surveyor [1919], Franca and
Mello [1921], Harkness [1922] and Cullen [1924].
Milton in 1919 put forward the view that human schistosomiasis is in all
probability endemic in India and yet has hitherto entirely escaped the notice
of medical men practising in this country. This statement of Milton created
some stir among the scientists in this country and as an outcome of that there
appeared in the same year three papers on the possible spread of schisto-
somiasis in this country. Sewell [1919] contradicts Milton and thinks that
endemic schistosomiasis is not possible in India since the proper kind of
molluscs do not exist in this country. Kemp and Gravely [1919] hold a view
similar to that of Sewell and further record their failure to infect snails with
the miracidia of human schistosomes in the neighbourhood of Hyderabad (Dec-
can) and Secunderabad. Soparkar in 1919 after discussing the pros and cons
of the question concludes with the remarks that the question whether human