250 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Other lines of investigation mentioned in this report will be con- 

 tinued, special attention being given to an investigation of the cereal 

 and water in sausage and to methods for the standardization of 

 tuberculin. 



THE ZOOLOGICAL DIVISION. 



The Zoological Division, under Dr. B. H. Ransom, chief, has been 

 engaged, as heretofore, in the investigation of parasitic diseases of 

 animals and in the study, collection, and detennination of animal 

 parasites. 



ROUNDWORMS OF SHEEP. 



The investigations relative to stomach worms and other round- 

 worms parasitic in sheep have been continued. Experiments not yet 

 completed are in progress which are intended to give data on the 

 reduction and prevention of parasitic infection by rotation of pastures. 



It has been found that the embryos of the hair lungworms of sheep 

 pass out of the body of infested animals with the feces, and it is prob- 

 able that infection is spread as commonly through this means as 

 through the sputum. 



Important facts have been detennined bearing upon the life history 

 of the gullet worm of sheep and cattle. 



TAPEWORMS OF SHEEP. 



Investigations have been begun relative to the fringed tapeworm, 

 w^hich in the western United States apparently does more damage 

 than any other internal parasite of sheep, the stomach worm and the 

 nodular worm being as yet rare and of little importance in the Rocky 

 Mountain and Plains regions, 



GID IN SHEEP. 



It has been definitely determined by experiment that the tapeworm 

 stage of the gid parasite will develop in coyotes. The coyote is there- 

 fore a factor in the spread of this disease as well as the dog. Except 

 for a center of infection in the State of New York, the disease still 

 appears to be enzootic in this country only in Montana. Two publi- 

 cations relative to gid have been issued during the year, one (Bulletin 

 125) rather technical in character, the other (Circular 165) of a more 

 popular nature. 



Gid apparently was introduced into New York through infested 

 sheep dogs imported from Europe, and it was on account of the danger 

 of further occurrences of this kind that B. A. I. Order 176 of Novem- 

 ber 25, 1910, was issued, providing for the quarantine and inspection 

 of imported sheep dogs. 



To determine the presence or absence of tapeworm infection, fecal 

 examinations were made of 52 imported dogs quarantined under the 

 provisions of Order 176. Eighteen of these dogs were found to be 

 infected with tapew^orms and received appropriate treatment before 

 they were released from quarantine. The total number of fecal speci- 

 mens examined, including those taken subsequent to treatment to 

 determine the success of the treatment, was 80. In several instances 



