Distomiasis.

Several forms of trematodes are found in animals; notably, the horse, goat, sheep, ass, rabbit, and other herbivorous animals, and occasionally they are found in man. The most important of these rare parasites are:

1. Pulmonary Distomiasis.—The Asiatics lung or bronchial fluke is found in China, Japan, occasionally in Europe, and one case has been reported to date, in the United States.

2. Hepatic Distomiasis.—Of the liver flukes, five species are found in man. It is said to be found quite frequently in China. Japan, and India, and a number of imported cases have been recorded in the United States.

3. Intestinal Distomiasis.—This intestinal fluke has been found in man in India, Egypt, and Japan.

Hemic Distomiasis.—Endemic hematuria is caused by the blood fluke, and is found in Africa, Arabia, Persia, India, and Egypt. The fluke is a flat worm, and may reach the length of an inch, and a third of an inch in width. The symptoms are referable to the various organs in which they are found, and are not sufficiently characteristic to be diagnostic.

Treatment.—The treatment has been unsatisfactory, since nothing has as yet been found that will kill the parasite.

The Eclectic Practice of Medicine, 1907, was written by Rolla L. Thomas, M. S., M. D.