VETEEINAEY MEDICINE. 87 



from 1904 to 1908, relating to the trematode, cestode, nematode, and arthopod 

 parasites affecting man, is reviewed in connection with lists of references. 



The gid parasite and allied species of the cestode genus Multiceps.— I, 

 Historical review, M. C. Hall (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bin: A)ii>n. Indus. Bui. 125, 

 pt. 1, pp. 68, fig. 1). — The name Multiceps multiceps is proposed here for the 

 first time to be used for the bladderworm of sheep, usually known as Cocnurus 

 cerebralis. 



The history of the occurrence of this species is taken up at length. The 

 author concludes that cases of gid were seen by Hippocrates 4 or 5 centuries 

 B. C. While the time and manner of introduction of this parasite into the 

 United States is not known, the author is of the opinion that it must have taken 

 place previous to 1886, in which year it was first recorded from Brazil, and 

 via either the dog or sheep. "The writer has collected evidence in Montana 

 indicating that the gid parasite has been imported in dogs in some instances 

 and the disease spread by the sale or gift of these dogs and their offspring." 



Proof of tlie actual occurrence of gid in this country was first recorded by 

 Ransom in 1905 (E. S. R., 16, p. 1133), though sheepmen claim to have had 

 losses between 1885 and 1890. Reports from other sources indicate that it was 

 also present the same year in Missouri, Kansas, Ohio. Colorado, and Indian 

 Territory. In Montana, gid is known to have occurred in Teton, Chouteau, 

 Valley, Cascade, Fergus, Gallatin, and Yellowstone counties, the first 4 and 

 probably northern Dawson County being on infected ranges. The first authentic 

 report of gid in the eastern United States was by Law in 1909, and by Taylor 

 and Boynton (E. S. R., 23, p. 87). As yet there is no positive record of its 

 occurrence in Canada. 



The sheep, cow, goat, horse, chamois, mouflon, gazelle and some antelope 

 forms — given as antelope, African antelope, Bubalis sp. and Hippotragus 

 equinus (?) — are accepted as hosts of the larval M. multiceps. "The parasite 

 is recorded from sheep in Greece, Germany, Switzerland, England, France, 

 Italy, Ireland, Holland, Scotland, Austria. Denmark, Iceland, Argentina, Sar- 

 dinia, South Australia, New Zealand, German Southwest Africa, and the 

 United States. ... It is recorded from cattle in Switzerland, Germany, Eng- 

 land, Italy, France. Iceland. Denmark, and Cape Colony. It is recorded and 

 figured from the goat in Holland." So far as the author is aware, the dog is 

 the only known host of the adult M. multiceps, and he has personally examined 

 tapeworms from coyotes and other wolves trapped in Montana. 



The economic importance of gid. alleged causes of gid, names applied to 

 gid and gid-affected animals, and common names of the gid parasite, are dis- 

 cussed and the synonymy of the genus and species presented. The figures given 

 for the United States, and the author's pei-sonal investigation in Montana, 

 show losses of from 2 or 3 to 10 per cent among some Montana flocks, and 

 amounting to $10,000 in some years. 



The second species considered, M. serialis, was first described in 1847 from a 

 rabbit. The larval M. serialis " has been claimed to occur in the hare, rabbit, 

 squirrel, copypu. goat, horse, klippdachs, sheep, and cat. Records of its occur- 

 rence in the hare and rabbit are undoubtedly correct, the records from the 

 squirrel are probably correct, those from the coypu and goat may be correct, the 

 record from the horse is doubtful, as heretofore indicated, and those from the 

 liyrax, sheep, and cat are errors. . . . The parasite has been reported from 

 France, England, Scotland, Italy, Russia, Siberia, Switzerland, Australia, New 

 Zealand, Japan, India, and the United States. Whether the parasite occurs 

 in Germany is doubtful." The larval stage is a very common parasite of rabbits 

 in the western part of the United States. The dog is the only host in which 

 the adult M. serialis has been found or produced. While the species is of com- 

 67374°— No. 1—11 7 



