BULLETIN 



OF THE 



Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences. 



volume v. NO. 2. 



THE GAPE WORM OF FOWLS (Syngatnus trachealis): THE 

 EARTHWORM {Lumbricus terrestris), ITS ORIGINAL 

 HOST. 



ALSO, ON THE PREVENTION OF THE DISEASE IN ^ 

 FOWLS CALLED THE GAPES, WHICH IS CAUSED 

 BY THIS PARASITE. . /*> * 



<s^ NEW YOR 



BY H. D. WALKER, M. D., FRANKLINVILLE, N. Y. "■ 



Note. — The first paper on this subject was read before the Buffalo Microscopi- 

 cal Club, Nov. 11, 1884. In January, 1885, the Commissioner of Agriculture 

 was notified of the results of the investigation. On the 15th of May, 1885, the 

 writer was appointed by him to continue the work, which, he was given to under- 

 stand by Dr. Salmon, would be brought out illustrated, and in the best form 

 that was possible. Instead of this, no illustrations were given, and only a few 

 of the experiments, without any of the arguments and conclusions. Dr. 

 Megnin's article having been published in the previous year's report, that was 

 accepted as correct, when in fact it was proved to be untrue by the production 

 of the gapes in two chicks, from feeding earthworms sent them by the writer. 

 The present publication is a result of the manner in which that report was treated. 



In the following pages we present the results of experiments 

 made for the purpose of determining the original host of the 

 gape worm of fowls. We have endeavored at the same time to 

 trace out the life history of this parasite, in its various stages 

 from the egg to the perfect worm, also to devise means for the 

 prevention of the disease caused by it among fowls. The object 



