58 GUIDE TO THE STUDY 



Search microscopically for eggs of trematodes. Cut the liver 

 in slices about a centimeter in thickness and press lightly so as 

 to force any parasites out of the smaller branches of the gall 

 ducts. The most probable find is the fluke Amphimerus pseudo- 

 felineus, an elongate, tapering form, measuring up to 20 mm. 

 Remove any found and then place the slices in a large dish of 

 water or physiological salt solution and examine from time to 

 time for any parasites that have emerged. The process is 

 hastened if the fluid is at blood heat. 



Kidneys and Bladder. — The kidneys should be included in 

 the examination, for important parasites occur in these organs 

 in some species of animals. We are not aware that any have 

 been reported for cats in this country. A species of Capillaria, 

 long and slender like that from the lungs, is reported as occurring 

 in the bladder. 



Muscle. — Minute samples of muscle, especially from near the 

 tendon of the diaphragm, should be compressed between two 

 slides and examined for the cysts of Trichinella spiralis. The 

 food habits of cats are such that they have frequent opportunities 

 to become infected by this dangerous parasite and thus to play 

 a role in its maintenance. 



Summary of Results. — Toward the end of the period the 

 results of the various examinations will be collected and summa- 

 rized. Such records carefully obtained and checked will ulti- 

 mately afford important data on the distribution and incidence 

 of parasites of economic importance. 



