T.ENIASIS 187 



dose may be repeated, and twelve hours after the first dose a purgative 

 should be given. 



The dog should be kept where its evacuations can be conveniently 

 examined, and, if it is found that the head of the tapeworm has not been 

 expelled, the treatment is to be repeated in a week to ten days. The 

 expulsion of the worm may be aided somewhat by rectal injections of 

 warm soapy water. 



If areca nut is used uncombined, it may be given in doses of two 

 grains for each pound of body-weight. It can be conveniently adminis- 

 tered shaken up in a little milk. Areca nut in itself is laxative or purga- 

 tive according to dosage. If purgation has not followed within a few 

 hours after its administration, a full dose of castor oil should be given 

 ten to twelve hours later. 



Kusso has an advantage in being quite safe even in excessive doses. 

 Small dogs take of the fluid extract one-half to one dram; large dogs, 

 two to four drams. It can be given in milk and repeated three times at 

 intervals of one hour. Vomiting, which sometimes follows the adminis- 

 tration of kusso, may be prevented by previously giving a medicament 

 having an anesthetic action upon the stomach. 



Kamala is given to dogs in doses of one-half to two drams in honey or 

 syrup. In cases where heavj^ infestation is suspected it should be re- 

 peated in eight hours. Kamala has some purgative action and may 

 also nauseate; the latter effect can be corrected by the same means as for 

 kusso. 



Other taeniafuges sometimes used are: (1) Pumpkin seeds, fed crushed 

 and macerated or as an infusion, and (2) turpentine, one-half to one 

 dram, given with the yolk of an egg and repeated mitil three doses have 

 been administered twenty-four hours apart. Turpentine, however, on 

 account of its irritant effect upon the kidneys, should be used with 

 caution. 



^^'hatever form of taeniafuge medication may be chosen, the chances 

 of success will depend much upon a brisk purgative action following 

 upon its operation. At best there is often failure to secure the head of 

 the worm, in which event a repetition of the whole treatment is called 

 for in the course of one to several weeks. 



Prevention. — To prevent the spread of taeniasis, all expelled tape- 

 worms and their fragments should be destroyed by burning. Dogs 

 known to be infected had best be isolated and all of their excrement 

 burned. Dogs which have their meat cooked, and those which are not 

 allowed access to the viscera of slaughtered animals and rabbits, are 

 not so likely to be infected, though such precautions will not protect 

 them from the common species Dipylidium caninum, freedom from fleas 

 and lice, and prevention from association with dogs less fortunate in 

 this respect, being essential to avoidance of infection Iw this species. 



