Symptoms. Treatment and Prophylaxis. 545 



Symptoms. In cattle digestive disturbances, lasting for 

 weeks or months, liave been observed in some cases: capricious 

 appetite, inactivity of rumination, constipation, frequent tym- 

 panitis, etc. Exceptionally jaundice and wasting and the gen- 

 eral symptoms of ill-health have been seen. The area of dul- 

 ness may be greatly increased and may extend backwards to 

 the last rib and in the downward direction to the lower third 

 of the abdomen (see fig. 68, page 536). Palpation of this re- 

 gion may cause symptoms of pain. The enlargement of the 

 liver may be so great that the right half of the abdomen and 

 right flank are rendered prominent. By manipulation of the 

 right side of the abdominal wall, and by rectal examination, 

 one can, in cases where the enlargement of the liver is exces- 

 sive, feel the thickened and rounded edge of the liver and the 

 elastic nature of the prominences can be appreciated (Labarrere, 

 Landler). Respiration is usually shallow and accelerated. 

 Weinberg and Vieillard found that echinococcosis can generally 

 be diagnosed by the fixation of complement method. 



The symptoms in the sheep are similar to those described. 

 The disease can only be distinguished from the similar con- 

 dition caused by flukes if the unevenness of the surface of the 

 liver can be felt through the abdominal wall. 



In pigs Lucas also saw pronounced ascites in cases of heavy infes- 

 tation. The animals were quite unable to get onto their hind feet 

 and dragged them behind them. In spite of a good appetite, there was 

 marked wasting. In a case recorded by Schmidt, there was evidence 

 of jaundice, while in one published by Friedrich there was enormous 

 distension of the abdomen without any ascites. 



Treatment and Prophylaxis. No satisfactory method of 

 treating echinococcosis is known. Since the disease is set up 

 by the ingestion of the eggs of the Taenia echinococcus, animals 

 should be prevented from eating food or drinking water that 

 are soiled with the feces of dogs. As this is g'enerally imprac- 

 ticable care must be taken that all organs of animals slaugh- 

 tered that contain echinococci are destroyed and not, as so 

 often happens, given to the dogs. 



Literature. Feuereissen, D. t. W., 1908, 110. — Friedrich, B. t. W., 1906, 17. 

 — Criglio, Clin. Vet., 1906, 409.— Joest, Z. f. Infkr., 1907, II, 10.— Labarrere, Rev. 

 V6t., 1887, 619.— Landler, A. L., 1907, 207.— Lichtenfel.l, Cbl. f. Bakt., 1904, 

 XXXVI, 546, 651; XXXVIT, 64 (Lit.).— Lucas, Z. f. Flhvg., 1907, XVII, 267.— 

 Martin, Rev. Vet., 1907, 668, 734, 800 (Lit.).— Ostertag, D." Z. f. Tm., 1891, XVII, 

 172; Fleischbesehau, 1904, 464.— Pecard, Bull., 1906, 591.— Posselt, Miinch. in. W., 

 1906, 5.S7, 605 (Lit.).— Piitzu, Cbl. f. Bakt., 1910, LIV (Orig.), 77.— Schmidt, 

 Z. f. Flhyg., 1907, XVIT, 270.— Vidal, Rev. A¥t., 1905, 240. 



(b) Distomatosis. Fluke Disease. 



(Liver rot.) 



The disease is caused by the Distomum hepaticum and D. 

 lanceolatum, and it occurs more frequently in sheep than in 

 cattle. It is an acute or chronic inflammation of the liver and 



