554 Distomatosis. 



at a diagnosis when there is a dead animal available for ex- 

 amination. Dnring life a certain diagnosis can be based upon 

 the discovery of the eggs of flukes in the feces. It must be re^ 

 membered that in the early stages of the disease there may be 

 no eggs in the feces and in such cases, enlargement and sensi- 

 tiveness of the liver should arouse suspicion as to the existence 

 of liver rot. This suspicion may be supported by a history in- 

 dicating the likelihood of infection. 



Microscopic examination of the feces can be carried out by diluting and 

 sedinienting the feces, or better still by repeated washing and filtering through a 

 gauze filter until the yellow color disappears (Lutz). The number of eggs in the 

 feces is very variable, depending probably upon the quantity of bile passing out 

 of the liver. According to Perroncito one finds an average of 10 eggs in each 

 preparation if 800 flukes are present, and Brusaferro puts the figure at 1 to 13 

 if 100 flukes are present. In severe cases, however, there may be as many as 30. 

 The feces of six young bovine animals liadly aff'ected with distomatosis were sys- 

 tematically examined by Hutyra & Marek, adopting Lutz's method, and only 

 isolated eggs could ])e discovered. 



The eggs of the D. lanceolatum are found far more rarely, so that examina- 

 tions may be negative although there may be large numbers of the parasites in the 

 liver. 



Prognosis. If the s;^Tiiptoms are pronounced, prognosis is 

 unfavorable. The SJ^nptoms may abate from time to time, but 

 there is scarcely ever a complete recovery. Young and weakly 

 animals are generally affected more seriously than older and 

 more robust ones, and cattle survive infection better than 

 sheep. 



Treatment. No drug has as yet been discovered that is of 

 any use. All that can be done is to nourish the animals as well 

 as possible (good hay, corn, bran, oil cake, etc.). As a rule, 

 well-nourished animals offer more resistance than poor, debili- 

 tated ones. If the animals are anemic or show symptoms of 

 edema, they should be slaughtered as soon as possible. 



The following dugs have been tried: benzine in doses of 5 to 6 gm. or for 

 cattle 60 to 120 gm. for 4 to 6 days (Bunck) ; naphthalin twice daily for a week 

 in doses of 0.7 to 0.1 gm. (Mojkovszki) ; turpentine (Perroncito) ; tincture of 

 iodine (de Romanet), creosote, picrate of potash, carbon bisulphide (Floris). 



Prophylaxis. The simplest and best known prophylactic 

 measure among farmers is the avoidance of moist, low-lying 

 land, especially for young animals. If this be impracticable 

 suitable land not being available, or on account of wet weather, 

 sheep should be given seven to eight grammes of salt 

 (daily) mixed with hay before they are turned out, and if pos- 

 sible, their drinking water should contain salt in the proportion 

 of one-half per cent. Trasbot states that pine shoots mixed 

 with bran are useful, and Cadeac advises leaves. Further it 

 appears to be advisable to give the animals plenty of room so 

 that they may not be forced to eat the lower parts of the grass 

 (see page 549). It has been advised to sprinkle the fields with 

 salt and liine(?). 



