

WORMS. 219 



coil themselves, and form a mechanical obstruction which is fatal to the 

 dog. 



The presence of all these worms is readily detected. There is generally 

 a dry, short cough, a staring coat, a hot and fetid breath, a voracious appe- 

 tite, and a peculiar state of the bowels ; alternately constipated to a great 

 degree, or peculiarly loose and griping. In young dogs the emaciated 

 appearance, stinted growth, fetid breath, and frequent fits, are indications 

 not to be mistaken. 



At other times, however, the dog is filled with worms with scarcely any 

 indication of their presence. Mr. Elaine very properly remarks that it 

 does not follow, because no worms are seen to pass away, that there are 

 none : neither when they are not seen does it follow even that none pass ; 

 for, if they remain long in the intestines after they are dead, they become 

 digested like other animal matter. 



The means of expelling or destroying worms in the intestines of the dog 

 are twofold : the first and apparently the most natural mode of proceed- 

 ing, is the administration of purgatives, and usually of drastic ones ; but 

 there is much danger connected with this ; not merely the faeces will be 

 expelled, but a greater or less portion of the mucus that lines the intestinal 

 canal. The consequence of this will be griping and inflammation to a 

 very dangerous extent. Frequent doses of Epsom salts have been given ; 

 but not always with success, and frequently with griping. Mercurial 

 medicines have been tried ; but they have not always succeeded, and have 

 often produced salivation. One method of expelling the worm has been 

 adopted which has rarely failed, without the slightest mischief the 

 administration of glass finely powdered. Not a particle of it pene- 

 trates through the mucus that lines the bowels, while it destroys every 

 intestinal worm. The powdered glass is made into a ball with lard and 

 ginger. 



The following account of the symptoms caused by taenia may be interest- 

 ing. A dog used to be cheerful, and particularly fond of his master ; but 

 gradually his countenance became haggard, his eyes were red, his throat 

 was continually filled with a frothy spume, and he stalked about with an 

 expression of constant inquietude and suffering. These circumstances 

 naturally excited considerable fear with regard to the nature of his disease, 

 rind he was shut up in a court, with the intention of his being destroyed. 

 Thus shut up, he furiously threw himself upon every surrounding object, 

 :ind tore them with his teeth whenever he could seize them. He retired 

 5 nto one of the corners of the court, and there he was continually rubbing 

 jiis nose, as it were to extract some foreign body ; sometimes he bit and 

 i ore up the earth, barking and howling violently ; his hair stood on end, 

 5 nd his flanks were hollow. 



During the whole of his disease he continued to recognise his master. 

 He ran to him at the slightest word. He refused nothing to drink ; but 

 } ie would not eat. He was killed on account of the fear excited among the 

 i teighbours. 



The veterinary surgeon who attended him suspected that there was some 

 affection of the head, on account of the strange manner in which he had 

 rubbed and beaten it. The superior part of the nose was opened, and two 

 iaenise lanceolatae were found : it was plain enough that they were the 

 ( ause of all the mischief. 



The proprietor of the dog nevertheless believed that it was a case of 



