CHAPTEE XYI. 



WOEMS. 



Another thing whicli greatly troubles the horse 

 and its owner is worms in the intestines. A 

 variety of worms inhabit the intestines of horses, 

 and when they become numerous, often prove 

 injurious to the constitution. Although some 

 writers say that they are not of much consequence 

 unless they are numerous, yet the author's humble 

 opinion is that an empty house is better than a 

 bad tenant, and he would recommend that the 

 sooner they are expelled the better. If there are 

 only a few settlers, they soon gather around them 

 a numerous progeny; for, where a single pair exist, 

 they will be like Paddy's bugs, become married 

 and have large families, and in a short time they 

 become a numerous colony. It is perfectly true 

 that by what means they first effect a lodgment 

 in the animal system is a problem yet to be solved, 

 but it is equally true that naturalists have detected 

 that these parasites are formed male and female, 

 and as Nature formed nothing in vain, they must 

 propagate in the ordinary manner of reproduction. 

 Very much has been written about the parasite 

 kingdom in relation to the animal economy of late 

 years. I do not intend to enter fully into their 

 organization, but shall be content to turn out the 



