LUMBRICOSIS OF CALVES. 267 



and isolated as far as possible, and should receive doses of the following 

 vermifuge : — 



Powdered areca nut . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ounces. 



Arsenic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 grains. 



The above is sufficient for ten animals, and a dose should be given 

 daily for a period of six days in a small quantity of bran. Treatment 

 is completed by abundant nourishment, and by distributing about the 

 pastures pieces of rock-salt suitably j^rotected. 



Many other vermicides or vermifuges have been suggested, but are 

 less easy to use. They comprise essence of turpentine, mixtures of 

 oil with essence of turpentine and benzine, picrate of potash in doses 

 of 7 to 20 grains per day, ethereal extract of male fern, etc. 



LUMBRICOSIS OF CALVES. 



Following the example of human medicine, we apply the term 

 " lumbricosis " to a disease caused by ascarides in calves, although 

 Neumann separates the ascarides of calves from the lumbricoid ascarides 

 with which they are usually confused in current practice. 



Causation. The disease is exclusively due to infestation with embryos 

 of the parasite, which in young calves afterwards develop in the first 

 portions of the intestine and in the abomasum, interfering with secretion, 

 and producing mechanical disturbance, colic, and digestive irregularity, 

 eventually followed by marked loss of condition. Death may even follow, 

 either from rupture of the pylorus or duodenum, or from secondary 

 septicaemia of intestinal origin, due to the parasites burrowing into the 

 mucous membrane and facilitating infection. In adults of all species 

 lumbricosis is rare. It occurs principally in young animals from the 

 time of weaning up to the age of eighteen months or two years. 



The diagnosis cannot usually be formed until the parasites are 

 found in the faeces, but microscopic examination sometimes reveals the 

 presence of the eggs, and thus excites suspicion. 



Provided the condition is diagnosed early, the prognosis is not 

 grave ; but when patients have become exhausted and anaemic they re- 

 quire a long time to recover, even w^hen freed from parasites. 



Treatment. Guittard recommends empyreumatic oil as very effica- 

 cious, and gives it in doses of 2^ to 3 drachms diluted with ordinary oil, 

 or emulsified with any kind of mucilage. 



Calomel gives good results, and may be administered in doses of 15 to 

 60 grains, according to the animal's age and size. 



Powdered areca nut would probably be easier to administer with the 

 food. Oil of turpentine is given mixed with ordinary oil, but its action 

 is less certain. 



