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



at the rate of o.i mil per kilo. The drugs were given in castor oil, vary- 

 ing in amount from 12 to 40 mils, according to the weight of the animals. 

 In this case, as usual, the chenopodium proved efficacious against ascarids 

 (Belascaris marginata) , removing 7 out of 8. The remedy showed an 

 appreciable effect on the whipworms (Trichuris depressiuscula) , removing 

 about one-fifth of the total number. In regard to hookworms, however, 

 only 7 out of 61 were removed. 



In order to ascertain whether the efficacy of the remedy for hookworms 

 would be enhanced by increasing the dose, a second trial was made in 

 which 0.2 mil per kilo, or double the amount of both chenopodium and 

 chloroform, were administered. As in the previous case, the treatment 

 was preceded by the administration of castor oil 24 hours before dosing, 

 ,and the dogs allowed no food until after the administration of the anthel- 

 mintics. The chenopodium and chloroform were given in castor oil, 

 allowing 29.57 ^^^ for each dog. The preliminary purgative removed 

 one ascarid (B. marginata) and some segments of Dipylidium caninum. 



The combination of chenopodium and chloroform in the dosage given 

 proved highly successful. All ascarids and over half the hookworms 

 present were removed. As usual, it was entirely ineffective for Dipy- 

 lidium caninum,. Undoubtedly the dosage of chenopodium and chloro- 

 form at the rate of o. i mil per kilo is too small for the best results, and 

 the efficacy of both drugs is enhanced by doubling the amount. At the 

 same time this increased dose seems to be well within the limits of safety 

 and has been tested several times by the junior writer, always with 

 satisfactory results. 



In view of the fact that castor oil is more or less objectionable to many 

 persons and is not well tolerated by others, the writers undertook an 

 experiment in which liquid petrolatum was substituted for castor oil in 

 connection with oil of chenopodium. Four dogs weighing 4.5 to 15 kilos 

 were given chenopodium in doses of 0.2 mil per kilo mixed with 10 mils 

 of liquid petrolatum, the drug being followed at once by 20 mils of 

 liquid petrolatum. The animals were fasted from noon of the previous 

 day. One of the dogs died on the third day following the administration 

 of chenopodium. The treatment was entirely inefficacious for ascarids, 

 hookworms, Dipylidium sp., or Taenia sp., and removed only 2 of 28 

 whipworms. While the experiment indicates that the liquid petrolatum 

 diminishes the efficacy of the chenopodium, it must be noted that there 

 was only one ascarid present, and while the treatment should have removed 

 the worm, this is a rather small basis on which to judge the performance 

 of the anthelmintic. On the other hand, the liquid petrolatum seems to 

 be unequal to the task of overcoming the constipation and toxic effects 

 from the chenopodium, as the treatment resulted in the death of one dog. 



It is the opinion of the writers that the mechanical lubrication resulting 

 from the use of liquid petrolatum is not sufficient to overcome the con- 

 stipation and that an active purgative, preferably castor oil, is indicated. 



