EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT. 145 



of worms, certain precautions in feeding should be observed. If 

 a single dose of a drug is to be depended upon, food should be 

 withheld until after the bowels have moved freely. If, however, 

 the drug is to be continued three or four days, the diet should be 

 simple and as limited as the condition of the animal will permit, 

 and allowing as long an interval as possible between the feeding 

 and the administration of the medicine. 



A very valuable and safe remedy for Ascarides in very young 

 or delicate small animals weighing one to three pounds is worm- 

 seed oil. This should be given in doses of one to four drops. It 

 is well to combine the remedy with a drop of oil of aniseseed or 

 oil of peppermint, well mixed in a teaspoonful of cod liver oil or 

 castor oil, or it may be given in a little warm milk. 



PREVENTION. 



As the Ascaris develops in the bowel directly from the ovum 

 or embryo, taken in with food or water, without requiring an in- 

 termediate host, every effort must be made to prevent its admis- 

 sion by these channels. Faecal matter, charged as it may be with 

 the parasites and their eggs, may find its way into the drinking 

 water or feeding vessels, and infect healthy animals. 



While it is true that we do not know the precise mode of intro- 

 duction of a great number of parasites, we are yet not altogether 

 at the mercy of their invasion. For them, as for the others, their 

 germs are certainly derived from without ; and it is evident that 

 our animals can be rendered absolutely safe from them, if we can 

 ensure the rigorous cleanliness of their surroundings and various 

 hygienic agencies. But it requires continual, fastidious and patient 

 care, which is generally so often neglected, and only comes into 

 notice when circumstances have demonstrated the manner and 

 seriousness of an invasion. 



I wish to express my thanks and acknowledge my indebtedness 

 to Mr. George M. Beerbower for the several excellent drawings 

 of parasites contained in this article. 



