Page:Tropical Diseases.djvu/902

846 the ventral surface; (4) ventral aspect of the disc smooth and quite free from sucker-bearing papillæ.

Geographical distribution.— We know little of the geographical distribution of G. hominis; it is probably widely distributed throughout Asia, and appears to be rather common in India. Law and Wise found it in East Indian immigrants in British Guiana; Mackie in seven patients in Assam, by one of whom two hundred worms were passed after treatment with thymol. The pig, apparently, is its normal host (Mathis and Leger). The parasite (Fig. 192) is of a reddish colour in fresh specimens, and measures 5 to 8 mm. in length by 3 to 4 mm. in breadth. Its body is divided into an anterior rather slender conical portion, and a posterior flattened ventrally concave disc; the oral sucker is small, ventral; the acetabulurn is at the posterior border of the ventral disc. The genital pore opens at about the middle of the anterior portion on a level with the bifurcation of the intestine. The testicles are two in number and lobate; the vas deferens is very sinuous. The eggs are oval, measure 150 μ. by 72 μ, and are operculated. The life-history is probably as in Paramphislomum cervi.

Pathogenesis.— G. hominis is found in the cæcum and colon. The mucous membrane is marked with numerous red spots resembling leech bites. These spots are caused by the parasites, which, attaching themselves to the mucosa by means of their suckers, produce minute pimple-like elevations of the surface. When the parasites occur in great numbers they cause much irritation.

Treatment.— The same as for adult tapeworms and ankylostomes— thymol.

Synonyms.—Distoma buski; Dicrocalium buski; D. rathouisi. History.—Fasciolopsis buski was first described by Busk in his " Diseases of the Liver," published in London in 1845. Busk found this parasite in 1843 in the duodenum of a Lascar who died at the Sea-men's Hospital. The pig is the normal host. Geographical distribution.—F.buski is an Asiatic trematode; it has been found in India, Assam, the Straits Settlements, Sumatra, and China.