67 



TAPE-WORM IN PARROTS. 



In "Cage Birds" for I2tli March, 1904, Mr. vSetli-Smith 

 replies as follows to a correspondent, under the above heading : — 

 " I have never before heard of tape-worms in a Parrot, and 

 imagine it is a most unusual case. Dr. Greene, who is our 

 greatest authority on the diseases of cage birds, does not 

 mention it in his useful little work on this sn])ject, but 

 mentions a somewhat similar malady which affects gallina- 

 ceous birds. He suggests jalap as a remedy for fowls, but I 

 should hesitate to give this to Parrots. It is possible that 

 some reader may have heard of a similar case having been 

 cured, and will give the readers of " Cage Birds," the result 

 of their experience." 



The following letter appeared in the next issue : — "Sir, In 

 answer to Mr. Seth-Smith's request in your issue of last week 

 for further information on this subject, there are, roughly 

 speaking, about a dozen different species of Cestode, or tape- 

 worm, which are found in the intestines of various species 

 of birds of various genera. In their anatoni}', physiological 

 structure, and life history especially, which together form 

 one of the most interesting chapters in Natural History, 

 they are entirely different from the Nematodes, or round, 

 worms, to which section belong the Heterakides, alluded 

 to by Mr. vSeth-vSmith. Among themselves, too, there are 

 important and striking differences. Under these circum- 

 stances, the treatment necessary for their destruction and 

 expulsion needs to be quite different from that adapted for 

 the round worm, and to be both safe and successful, should 

 be carried out by some one who understands both the worm 

 and its host. Mr. Seth-vSmith was quite right in hesitatino- 

 to suggest the use of jalap for "Hillside's" Parrot; what- 

 ever effect it might have on any Hetei'akis (in which connec- 

 tion it was originally recommended), it would have none 

 whatever on a Cestode, and would in such a case only irritate 

 the bird's intestines to no purpose. A few hours' with- 

 holding of all food and drink, followed by a dose of oil 

 of male fern proportionate to the size of the bird, to be 

 followed by food after a certain time, and then again by a 

 suitable purgative, is the only available treatment. The 

 extruded segments of the worm (or worms in the case of 

 those particular species which are nmltiple), must be care- 

 fully examined to make sure that they are all there. If 



