The Intestinal Protozoa of Man

Abstract

THIS is a treatise which will be very valuable to the medical investigator of the microscopic intestinal parasites of man—other than those belonging to the great group of Bacteria. Its origin is due to the continuous and comprehensive study, made during the great war, of the relation to parasitic Protozoa of dysenteric disease occurring in the British Army. Mr. Clifford Dobell has previously published various reports of his masterly work on this subject, and two years ago (December n, 1919, vol. 104, p. 369) we noticed in these columns his critical essay entitled “The Amoebae Living in Man.” In the present publication Mr. Dobell has been assisted by Mr. F. W. O'Connor, who had independently carried on investigations on intestinal Protozoa in connection with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Mr. O'Connor was to have been specially responsible for the medical parts of this book, and Mr. Dobell for those parts which are purely zoological. But, owing to the departure of his medical colleague in 1919 on an expedition to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, the task of completion of the work and responsibility for the greater part of it have fallen on Mr. Dobell. The treatise is distinguished by that patient inquiry into previous work and critical judgment as to nomenclature and synonomy which have rendered Mr. Dobell's earlier publications of special value. It is absolutely necessary that medical men and proto-zoologists should agree upon a terminology in order that they may understand each other's writings, and this result Mr. Dobell's careful review and original observations enable them to achieve.

The Intestinal Protozoa of Man.

By Clifford Dobell F. W. O'Connor. Pp. xii + 211 + 8 plates. (London: Published for the Medical Research Council by J. Bale, Sons, and Danielsson, Ltd., 1921.) 15s. net.