DISEASES 91 



in the hour. Rapid emaciation, exhaustion and death follow in a few days, 

 once dysentery is established. 



Absolute diagnosis can only be made by microscopical examinations 

 of the stools. This, however, involves considerable technical difficulties, 

 and for practical purposes may be counted out. 



Treatment. 



In nursing and newly weaned puppies is almost out of the question, as 

 drastic remedies cannot be used safely. The remedies recommended by 

 government experts for uncinariasis in man are thymol, male fern, oil of 

 turpentine and chloroform, singly or in combination, followed by active 

 purgatives. In the dog it is advisable to give all vermifuge medicines in 

 capsules or coated pills, to prevent nausea and vomiting, which occurs when 

 medicines are given in fluid form. In the dog better results are produced 

 by giving daily doses before feeding each morning. In this way dysentery 

 is not so liable to be set up as where full treatments are given. 



Thymol is looked on as a specific in the human being, but is a most 

 unreliable drug for the dog. In a number of puppies of the same age, weight 

 , and condition I have found some who would tolerate large doses, while in 

 others extremely small doses would produce persistent vomiting, convul- 

 sions and death. Extract of male fern in combination with turpentine, 

 chloroform and castor oil or glycerine is much safer given in small daily 

 doses. 



During treatment tonics, such as iron, arsenic and strychnine, arsenite 

 of copper, etc., should be given, and to sustain strength cod liver oil, raw 

 meat and milk and eggs should be fed generously. To control diarrhea 

 bismuth subgallate may be given in large doses; it acts as an intestinal 

 antiseptic, as well as being an astringent. 



As a tonic, instead of drugs given in this article, the writer of this 

 book would use Sergeant's Condition Pills, in all cases. 



As to Prevention. 



Commencing with the egg, it has been found that they are formed and 

 undergo changes while in the oviduct of the female. After being passed 

 out of the dog's bowels with the stools they undergo further changes in 

 surface soil, the time occupied depending on the suitability of the surround- 

 ings, the essential features being moisture and favorable temperatures. 

 Where conditions are favorable the eggs are hatched out in a few days, and 

 after the embryos have undergone several moultings they are ready to 

 infect dogs by means of drinking water or contaminated food. 



The important features to remember are: (1) That the eggs are hatch- 

 ed out, not while in the intestine of the dog, but after being passed out with 

 the stools. From this it follows, then, that every individual hookworm 

 present in the intestines of the dog'represents infection by a single embryo. 

 In other words, the parasites do not actually increase in number while 

 in the dog's intestines. (2) Moisture is absolutely essential to the hatch- 

 ing out of the eggs. Drinking troughs and contaminated water supply are, 

 therefore, rightly considered as the chief sources of infection. 



