41 6 Journal of Agricultural Research voi.xii. No. 7 



Following the anthelmintic the smaller dog passed a few chains of 

 proglottides the first day after treatment, and on the second day 17 

 fragments and 4 heads. No tapeworms were passed by the larger dog 

 during the four days following treatment, and no nematodes were passed 

 by either dog. The feces of the larger dog were examined for Taenia 

 eggs four days after administering the vermifuge, and were found nega- 

 tive. As this dog had passed no Taenia, and as the original presence 

 of tapeworms was somewhat doubtful, it was dropped from the experi- 

 ment. The post-mortem examination of the smaller dog showed no 

 Taenia, 15 hookworms, and 13 whipworms. The remedy was therefore 

 entirely efficacious for species of Taenia and entirely inefficacious for 

 hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum) and whipworms {Trichuris depres- 

 siuscula), thus confirming the opinion derived from the previous experi- 

 ment, that male-fern is very efficacious for tapeworms in dogs and 

 inefficacious for nematodes. 



For worms in cats. — Six cats which had been fed with Cysticercus 

 fasciolaris fonned the subject of this experiment. Each cat was given 

 0.8 mil of oleoresin of aspidium, followed by 130 mgm. of calomel for the 

 four largest cats and 97 mgm. of calomel in the case of the two smaller 

 cats. Within half an hour one of the cats, which was weak from con- 

 finement in a cage and which was suffering from coryza, had died. The 

 post-mortem examination revealed an intense congestion of the gastric 

 mucosa. The characteristic odor of male-fern was noticeable in the 

 stomach, but not in the intestines. A half -grown individual of Taenia 

 taeniaeformis and several ascarids (Belascaris cati) were found in the 

 small intestine, while three dead B. cati were in the colon. Another cat, 

 which was weak from a previous infestation with mange, passed several 

 chains of T. taeniaeformis shortly after the administration of the male- 

 fern and died three days later. A third cat vomited one T. taeniaeformis 

 and one B. cati and still had one B. cati post-mortem. Two of the six 

 cats were uninfested with Taenia spp., since they passed no tapeworms 

 and none were found post-mortem. Of the four infested animals two 

 died from the treatment, but three of the four were entirely freed from 

 their Taenia infestation, the fourth dying before the remedy had an 

 opportunity to reach the parasite. 



It would appear from the above that male-fern is efficacious in removing 

 tapeworms from cats, but that it is apparently more toxic in the case of 

 cats than with dogs, and should only be prescribed for healthy animals. 

 Probably some other taeniacide could be used which might prove as 

 effective and less dangerous. It should be noted that the dose of male- 

 fern given was less than the minimum dose 15 minims (0.9 mil), recom- 

 mended by Winslow {igis). With the exception of the one ascarid, 

 which was vomited, the treatment had no effect on the few ascarids {Be- 

 lascaris cati) and hookworms {Ancylostoma caninum) which were present. 



