270 



PARASITES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



varied from 10 to 20 per cent., but in many cases almost all the 

 members of a flock exhibited diarrhoea and loss of condition. 



The cause appeared to be the presence of small nematode worms in 

 the fourth stomach, which generally exhibited gastritis with inflammatory 

 congestion of the mucous membrane, though in a considerable number 

 of cases the lining membrane of the stomach was markedly anaemic. In 

 a large number of cases the irritation of the mucous membrane was 

 continued into the duodenum, but as a rule the remainder of the small 

 intestine was not inflamed. 



The worms named by McFadyean Strongylus cervicornis are from 10 



to 12 mm. in length, so that although not of microscopic dimensions 



they cannot be seen when suspended in the stomach contents. They 



are readily detected in microscopical preparations under a low power. 



The treatment is similar to that of gastro-enteritis in cattle, but chief 



attention should be directed to 

 prophylaxis. 



* * * * 



A verminous disease, closely 

 simulating the above, and 

 affecting cattle, sheep, and 

 goats in Texas, is described 

 by Ch. Warden Stiles in the 

 Annual Report of the United 

 States Department of Agricul- 

 ture for 1900, p. 356. The 

 disease was of mixed character, 

 and consisted in various de- 

 grees of verminous gastritis, 

 verminous enteritis, and ver- 

 minous bronchitis. In the 

 stomach were found the common twisted wireworm {Strongylus cantor tus) 

 and Ostertag's encysted wireworm {Strongylus Ostertagi). It appeared to 

 be present in every calf, steer and cow examined (post-mortem), and was 

 undoubtedly the chief agent in causing death. The sheep and goats 

 were very similarly affected. In the bowel of cattle were found the 

 hookworm {Uncinaria radiata), nodular disease worm {Q^sophagostoma 

 colunihianum) : in that of sheep the hookworm {Uncinaria cernua) and 

 nodular disease worm {(EsojiJiagostoma columhianuni) , and the fringed 

 tapeworm {Thysanosoma actinioides). In the lungs of the cattle Stron- 

 gylus micnirus (the small-tailed lungworm), and of sheep the thread- 

 worm strongyle {Strongylus filaria) were detected. 



Treatment. Sulphate of copper, gasoline and coal-tar creosote 

 were tried, but the best results were obtained from doses of 30 grains 



Fig. 116. — Caudal extremity of male Stron 

 gylus contortus. (Block kindly lent by Prof 

 McFadyean.) 



