Intestinal Worms 345 



the appetite is usually capricious, and the animal does 

 not appear to be in as good condition as the amount 

 of food consumed would warrant. There is often itch- 

 ing about the anus, which causes the animal to rub 

 against various obstacles, often wearing away the hair 

 at the roots of the tail. The worms, or eggs, are 

 usually passed with the dung, as a close examination 

 with the lens may reveal. In horses, there is frequently 

 a collection of a whitish-yellow substance close to the anal 

 opening. In dogs and sheep, small, white, rectangular 

 segments of the flat tape -worm can frequently be ob- 

 served in the excrement. Owing to the habits of the 

 animal, the pig and dog are most frequently attacked 

 by intestinal worms. Sheep are frequently infested 

 with tape -worms, derived from pastures or drinking 

 places infected by dogs, especially by the dogs used in 

 herding sheep. Young animals that are out of condi- 

 tion, or those fed largely on one kind of food, are 

 more liable to attack by intestinal worms. 



Preventive treatment is more satisfactory and eco- 

 nomical than medicinal. Animals liable to attack 

 should be kept in vigorous, thrifty condition by allow- 

 ing them sufficient and suitable food in variety. Com- 

 mon salt should be supplied to the animals, but not 

 mixed with the food. The quarters, as well as the 

 food and water, should be kept clean and free from in- 

 festation and contamination. In many cases, if animals 

 affected with worms are given a good variety and an 

 abundance of nutritious, laxative food, with some tonic 

 medicine, they recover their normal condition without 

 further medicinal treatment. 



