55^ SWINE IN AMERICA 



and the female may be twice that length. This worm 

 usually does no harm when there are only a few present. 

 The animal will likely keep in good health, but when 

 they are numerous, they will disturb digestion and cause 

 colicky pains, loss of flesh, dry hair, morbid appetite, 

 restlessness and nervous twitching, and in some cases, 

 fits. Cases are recorded in which they worked through 

 the walls of the intestines and, reaching some of the 

 other organs of the body, caused death This worm 

 generally inhabits the small intestine, but not infrequently 

 finds its way forward to the stomach, or liackwards to 

 the rectum, and sometimes escapes from the intestine 

 through the anus. This worm has also been found in the 

 biliary duct, gall bladder, and the substance of the liver. 

 There have been a number of experiments made to find 

 the origin of this worm, and it is found that its eggs 

 are passed from the bowel. They retain their vitality 

 for a long time ; they appear never to be developed in 

 the bowels, but when discharged and kept in water they 

 begin to show signs of life, and in about seven months 

 contain embryo worms 1-120 of an inch in length. These 

 have not been seen to break shell, but the ova. carried into 

 streams, ponds, and wells, sometimes probably find an 

 entrance into the stomach with the drinking water, when 

 the embryo escapes from its shell and completes its 

 growth in the intestine. 



"The best remedy for this worm is the fluid extract 

 of spigelia and senna, given in 5'2-ounce doses every 

 four hours until it causes purging. Wormseed oil (che- 

 nopodium), in doses of from five to ten drops, given in 

 a tablespoonful of castor oil, is also good. Turpentine 



