Abstract: A device for the diagnosis of certain gastrointestinal pathogens includes a gelatin pharmaceutical capsule which contains a malleable drag material made of a mixture of beeswax and mineral oil. Embedded in the drag material is a narrow piece of thin sampling cloth with inwardly tapered ends. The free end of the sampling cloth is attached to a string which extends through a perforation in the capsule. The patient holds the free end of the string and swallows the capsule. The sampling cloth and drag material are retrieved for testing after the capsule is digested.

Abstract: Diamidoxime monomers having the formula: ##STR1## are intermolecularly and thermally condensed to form a heat and chemical resistant polymer containing 1,2,4-oxadiazole linkages and having the formula: ##STR2## wherein R represents identical bivalent organic radicals or any combination of bivalent organic radicals selected from the group consisting of --(CX.sub.2).sub.p --, wherein p ranges from 2 to 8 when X is fluorine and 2 to 18 when X is hydrogen, chlorine, nitro or aryl; arylene; and an oligometric or polymeric radical prepared by reacting a dicarboxylic acid halide with a fluorinated epoxide and having the formula:CFY(OCF.sub.2 CFY).sub.m O(CX.sub.2).sub.p O(CFYCF.sub.2 O).sub.n CFYwherein Y is fluorine or trifluoromethyl, X is nitro, aryl, hydrogen, chlorine or fluorine, preferably the latter, p ranges from 1 to 18 and m+n ranges from 2 to 7.