WORMS. 437 



inquirer, it is well to have a good ground to start from. The 

 generation of parasites is at all times of great interest, but, with 

 reference to the Entozoa, there is so much still unknown, that the 

 natural historian who would be able to throw light on this branch 

 of his favourite study would deserve the thanks of those who, 

 while they take an equal interest in it with himself, have not the 

 opportunity, or jjerhaps the industry, which he possesses. 



The symptoms of the presence of worms in the dog should be 

 carefully noted and anxiously looked for, if the health of the 

 animal is of any importance. They are, an unhealthy appearance 

 of the coat, the hair looking dead and not lying smoothly and 

 evenly ; appetite ravenous in proportion to the condition, which 

 is generally low, though worms may exist for months without 

 interfering much with the presence of fat. After a time, however, 

 the fat of the body is absorbed, and the muscles, without being 

 firm and prominent, are marked with intervening lines from its 

 absence. Thefceces are passed frequently and in small quantities, 

 the separate passage of a small quantity of mucus each time being 

 particularly indicative of worms, especially if there is first a solid 

 limip, and then a small portion of frothy mucus. The spirits also 

 are dull, the nose hot and dry, and the breath ofiensive. These 

 signs are only present to the full extent when the dog is troubled 

 with tape-worm, or with the round-worm in large quantities ; the 

 maw-worm being only slightly injurious in comparison with the 

 others, and seldom producing the whole of the above train of symp- 

 toms. The kidney-worm, of course, has no effect upon the intes- 

 tinal secretions, but it produces bloody urine, more or less mixed 



