14
c u l t u r e s o f a m œ b æ m a d e f r o m d y s e n t e r y s t o o l s , l i v e r p u s , B o m b a y t a p w a t e r , a n d
the stools of normal monkeys were sent to Professor E. A. Minchin, F.R.S., Univer
- s i t y o f L o n d o n , a n d i n f o r m a t i o n w a s r e q u e s t e d o n t h e f o l l o w i n g p o i n t s : — ( 1 ) I f t h e
f o u r s t r a i n s o f a mœb æ w e r e t h e s a me . ( 2 ) Wh e t h e r t h e y w e r e s i mi l a r t o t h e a mœb æ
described by Noc in Cochin China, but different from En t a mœb a h i s t o l y t i c a.
(3) As to their pathogenicity. Professor Minchin very kindly undertook to have
the specimens examined ; and this was done by Miss M. Robertson M.A., Assist
- a n t P r o f e s s o r o f P r o t o z o o l o g y , L o n d o n U n i v e r s i t y , w h o h a s m a d e a s p e c i a l s t u d y
o f a m œ b æ , a n d w e a r e i n d e b t e d t o h e r f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g R e p o r t
which she kindly sent us on the specimens :
—
I have now looked through the slides from the am
œba cultures. The am
œba in the cul
- t u r e s f r o m t h e d y s e n t e r y p a t i e n t , f r o m t h e l i v e r a b s c e s s a n d t h e B o m b a y w a t e r s e e m t o m e
to belong to the same species, allowing that cultural forms give a true picture of specific charac
- t e r s .
The am
œba does not present the characters of either Ent amœba col i o r
E n t . h i s t o l y t i c a
;
it seems, however, to be the same form as the one described by Noc from similar sources in
C o c h i n C h i n a . T h e a mœb a i n t h e c u l t u r e f r o m t h e mo n k e y s h o w s c e r t a i n a p p e a r a n c e s n o t
seen in any of the other three cases, although the trophic phase is identical. Whether these
appearances denote a real difference of species or are a mere reaction to some cultural con
-dition, I do not know, and it would, take careful and prolonged study to determine this.
Noc has well described all the more obvious features of the life-cycle and has stated a very
neat case in favour of the form in question being the pathogenic agent in the periodic outbreaks
of dysentery.
There remain, however, many points in the cycle, points bearing more particularly upon
nuclear features, multiplication, possible syngamy and autogamy which could be worked out
from a close study of the cultures.
1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
The descr i pt i on of t he amœbæ i s based on t he r esul t s of t he di r ect exami nat i on
of them in the stools and liver pus, and, also, on the study of the ameebm in cul
- t u r e s f r o m t h e s e s o u r c e s . W e w e r e u n a b l e t o d e t e r m i n e a n y d e f i n i t e d i f f e r e n c e
bet ween t he amœbæ c ul t i v at ed f r om t he abov e s our c es .
The protoplasm is divided into a granular endoplasm and a clear ectoplasm.
There is a small excentrically placed nucleus at the boundary between the ecto
- p l a s m a n d e n d o p l a s m ; o n e o r m o r e c o n t r a c t i l e v a c u o l e s a r e s e e n , a l s o , ( f i g u r e s
6, 8, 9, 10, plate I). Contractile vacuoles are rare in parasitic amœbæ as a rule,
but have been described by Noc1 a n d P o r t e r
2 i n
A . c h i r o n o m i
. P s e u d o p o d i a
are formed during the movements of locomotion.
1A
n n a l . d e L ' I n s t i t u t P a s t e u r
, No. 3, March 1909. 2J
o u r n a l o f P a r a s i t o l o g y , V o l u m e I I , 1 9 0 9 .