364 PARASITES OF ANIMALS 



The post-mortem examination revealed a healthy condition of 

 the whole of the intestines, save slight thickening of some parts 

 of the colon and rectum, which contained, enclosed in the 

 mucous membrane, in cysts or minute sacs, worms coiled upon 

 themselves. Each cyst, containing one worm, was best seen 

 by transmitted light. The colon was nearly full of faecal 

 matter, which contained thousands of parasites scarcely visible. 

 The largest were very few in number, not exceeding an 

 inch in length and barely one sixteenth in diameter at the 

 middle portion. They somewhat tapered at both ends. The 

 caecum was half full of fluid faeces, containing no visible worms ; 

 the rectum, with faeces of natural consistence, the examination 

 of which reavealed only two or three evident worms ; so that 

 the examination of faeces of living animals giving results like 

 this would not assist the diagnosis, unless suspected. Small 

 intestines these latter contained about a dozen bots, which 

 were nearly free, but had pierced to the muscular coat. I 

 should think they had participated in the disease. The right 

 lung had been slightly congested ; nothing else abnormal to be 

 seen. Possibly congestion of lungs would arise from the 

 distress when pained with worms, for the pony was found on its 

 back with its head in a thicket it had not appeared to have 

 struggled with its teeth firmly closed. 



" Respecting the animals affected with Taenia, it is remark- 

 able that, as a rule, they are in fair condition. The average 

 time they appear to be troubled with the worms is two months, 

 and the symptoms observed have been many. They are at 

 first seen to be unable to keep up with the other ponies, ex- 

 tending the head and turning the upper lip up, rubbing the 

 quarters, staring coat, suddenly appearing distracted, seizing 

 turf in mouthfuls when being griped or pained, others running 

 away as fast as they can go, or rolling and kicking on the 

 ground for five or ten minutes, then walking away as if nothing 

 had happened, if coming down a slope quickly almost sure to 

 fall headlong, easier caught, not unfrequently coughing, groaning 

 noise, appetite good, and, what is peculiar in some of them, lame- 

 ness of one of the hind limbs, mostly the near hind leg, with 

 slight knuckling over at fetlock. 



" Post-mortem appearance. Abdominal viscera normal, save 

 rectum, which is in some places slightly congested ; colon 

 nearly full of faeces, no worms ; caecum, in which worms are 

 alone found, is nearly full of faecal matter of thicker consistence 



