PARASITIC GASTRIC CATARRH. 809 



On making a post mortem examination of one sheep killed for 

 the purpose it was found that the Strongylus filaria was absent, 

 but that the true stomach (abomasum) contained a quantity of 

 a dirty looking fluid, in which the Strongylus contortus could be 

 seen wriggling in great numbers. 



The parasites were so small as to be seen in the fluid with 

 difficulty by the naked eye, but by gently moving the walls 

 of the viscus, the whole fluid would seem to be one seething, 

 fermenting mass of wriggling, moving worms ; whilst the body 

 of the animal was very anoemic, the muscular tissue greatly 

 wasted and very pallid, the fat fairly abundant, but presenting the 

 very white appearance seen in liver-rot and other ancemic diseases. 



The Strongylus contortus has been studied in Germany by 

 Gerlach particularly, and the following is a brief resume of his 

 conclusions. 



The Strongylus contortus occurs in the fourth stomach of the 

 sheep and goat, and when present in large numbers causes disease 

 {Magcnwurmerseuche). At the same time, as was first noticed 

 by Gerlach, the Strongylus filaria is usually present in the lungs. 

 In the summer the Strongylus filaria is most abundant ; in 

 autumn the Strongylus filaria and Strongylus contortus are almost 

 equally numerous ; while in winter the Strongylus contortus pre- 

 vails, and the Strongylus filaria has almost disappeared. Hence 

 the stomach disease caused by Strongylus contortus breaks out in 

 winter and spring in those lambs which have survived the lung 

 disease of summer and autumn.^ 



These facts agree with what was observed at Hollybush, 

 namely, — 1st. The appearance of disease early in the autumn 

 amongst the sheep. This would be due to the lung disease 

 caused by Strongylus filaria. 2d. The recovery of many of the 

 sheep affected when the diet was changed, i.e., when removed to 

 a clean pasture , and 2>cl. The appearance of the disease later on 

 in the season, in February 1884, and resulting from the Strongy- 

 lus contortus, confirmed by the post mortem examinations, in one 

 of which only a few Strongyli filarice were found. 



From this connection between these worms, Gerlach was led 

 to make the following experiments : — Eggs of Strongylus filaria 

 were given to healthy goats and lambs, and, four months after 

 the feeding, Strongylus contortus was found to be present. From 

 these experiments Gerlach concluded that Strongylus contortus 



^ The Sfronr/ylus contortus is prevalent in Jamaica in districts where animals 

 are confined to " pond water," and is injurious to cattle and destructive to sheep 

 and goats. 



