218 WORMS. 



its immersion in this fluid, as it showed a general red hue, not apparently 

 deeper in some parts than in others. There was an absence, to a great 

 extent, of that beautiful appearance and well-marked course of the minute 

 blood-vessels which accompany many cases of original peritonitis. Ex- 

 tending the examination, I found the bladder to be ruptured, and that the 

 fluid of which I have spoken was to a large extent composed of urine, 

 mingled with some other secretion from the peritoneal investure of the 

 abdomen and its viscera, probably produced from the presence of an 

 irritant, the urine being brought into direct contact with the membrane. 

 Farther research showed that this rupture of the bladder was caused in 

 the manner which I have stated. The post-mortem examination displayed 

 a chronic enlargement of the prostate gland of a considerable size, causing 

 by its pressure a mechanical obstruction to the passage of the urine. Death 

 in this instance was not immediately brought about by the abnormal state 

 of the original organ affected ; but the prostate gland, having early in the 

 life of the animal become diseased, and, being gradually increased in size, 

 became a cause of still more serious disease, attacking more important 

 organs. 



WORMS. 



There are various kinds of worms to which the dog is subject : they 

 have occasionally been confounded with each other ; but they are essentially 

 different in the situations which they occupy, and the effects which they 

 produce. 



The ascarides are small thread-like worms, generally not more than 

 six or ten lines in length, of a white colour, the head obtuse, and the tail 

 terminating in a transparent prolongation. They are principally found in 

 the rectum. They seem to possess considerable agility ; and the itching 

 which they set up is sometimes absolutely intolerable. To relieve this, 

 the dog often drags the fundament along the ground. 



All the domesticated animals are subject to the annoyance which these 

 worms occasion. They roll themselves into balls as large as a nut, and 

 become entangled so much with each other that it is difficult to separate 

 them. Sometimes they appear in the stomach, and in such large masses 

 that it is almost impossible to remove them by the act of vomiting. It has 

 been said that packets of ascarides have been collected in the stomach 

 containing more than one hundred worms. These collections are rarely 

 or never got entirely rid of. Enormous doses of medicine may be given, 

 and the worms may not be seen again for several weeks ; but, at length, 

 they reappear as numerous as ever. 



Young dogs are exceedingly subject to them, and are with great diffi- 

 culty perfectly freed from their attacks. 



Another species of worm is the teres. It would resemble the earth- 

 worm in its appearance, were it not white instead of a red colour. They 

 are very common among dogs, especially young dogs, in whom they are 

 often attended by fits. Occasionally they crawl into the stomach, and there 

 produce a great deal of irritation. 



Another, and the most injurious of the intestinal worms, is the tcenia, 

 or tape-worm. It is many inches in length, almost flat in the greater part 

 of its extent, and its two extremities are nearly or quite equal. Tape- 

 worms associate in groups like the others, but they are not so numerous ; 

 chiefly frequent the small intestines. They are sometimes apt to 



