422 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xii.no. 7 



Santonin and ar^ca nut for worms in dogs. — Areca nut is 

 frequently prescribed with santonin, since it furnishes the necessary 

 laxative, and having anthelmintic properties of its own is supposed 

 to be an adjuvant to the santonin. In this experiment four dogs 

 weighing from 2.7 to 6.8 kgm. were given 33 to 130 mgm. of santonin 

 combined with 0.78 to 1.94 gm. of areca nut. The dogs were given a 

 preliminary dose of castor oil which removed 7 ascarids (Belascaris 

 marginata). Following the administration of the santonin and areca 

 nut 3 B. marginata were passed. At the post-mortem examination 30 

 ascarids {B. marginata) were found besides several hookworms (Ancy- 

 lostoma caninum), whipworms (Trichuris depressiuscula), and i Dipy- 

 lidium caninum. One of the dogs vomited the santonin, which may 

 account for its failure to act in this case. In this case santonin proved 

 less efficacious for ascarids than castor oil, and had no effect on the 

 other intestinal worms present. 



Santonin and areca nut for worms in hogs. — Combinations of 

 santonin and areca nut are frequently prescribed for pigs, to be mixed 

 with the feed. The following, copied from the Breeder's Gazette, is 

 typical : 



Santonin 2}4 grains. 



Areca nut i dram. 



Calomel K grain. 



Sodium bicarbonate K dram. 



This quantity is considered sufficient for a 100- pound hog. As the pigs 

 experimented with weighed only 24.5 kgm. each, two-thirds of the amount 

 prescribed was allowed for each pig and mixed with the feed, after 

 starving the animals 24 hours. Three days after the experiment the 

 feces were still positive for Ascaris suum, and a second trial was made 

 using the full amount prescribed in the formula. This experiment was 

 also unsuccessful in ridding any of the hogs of ascarids. A third trial 

 of the formula was made on a pig weighing 24.5 kgm. with the object of 

 testing the efficacy of repeated doses. Five times the amount pre- 

 scribed was made up and divided into seven powders, one powder being 

 mixed with the feed every morning for seven consecutive days. At the 

 end of the period no diminution in the number of ascarid eggs in the 

 feces was discernible. 



As far as these experiments can be analyzed, it appears that santonin 

 and areca nut offer no advantages over santonin and calomel, and that 

 either combination must be repeated and given in individual doses on 

 an empty stomach to be efficacious. The last experiment illustrates 

 the inadvisability of giving drugs to hogs, mixed with the feed, since in 

 this case, a drug already shown to be efficacious in repeated doses was 

 apparently a complete failure when given in this manner. 



