26 Georgia State College of Agriculture 



through contamination of the food and water supply. This being 

 the case measures must be taken to provide against such contami- 

 nation. See to it that the hogs are provided with fresh water from 

 well or spring or free-flowing stream and that they are not com- 

 pelled to drink from wallow holes and stagnant pools or swamps. 

 If hogs are fed grain feeding platforms should be provided, pre- 

 ferably of cement. When hogs are closely confined the pens should 

 be cleaned daily and plenty of lime and disinfectants should be used. 



Thorn-headed Worm (Echinorhynchus gigas). 



This is a very common parasite of the small intestines of hogs. 

 The name is derived from the fact that the head of the worm is 

 provided with an armature of hooks with which the parasite at- 

 taches itself to the mucous membrane of the intestine. This worm 

 varies in length from five to fourteen inches. The body is firm and 

 tapers to a point at the tail. Transverse ridges are noticeable. The 

 worm has no digestive system but lives upon the digested food pres- 

 ent in the intestine and which it absorbes through the skin. While 

 very common, it is seldom that the results of infestation are as 

 plainly evident, as in the case of Ascaris suilla, and it is seldom that 

 the worms are present in large numbers. 



life History. The female worm produces eggs which pass out 

 with the manure and are eaten by the common white grub worm 

 which is the larva of the May bug or May beetle. In the digestive 

 system of the grub the eggs hatch in a few days and the young 

 worms, microscopic in size, bury themselves in the wall of the ab- 

 dominal cavity of the grub. In rooting around in soil infested with 

 these grubs the hog consumes all that he finds. In the stomach 

 the young worm is liberated from the body of the grub, attaches 

 itself to the lining of the small intestine and soon reaches maturity. 



Symptoms. _It is seldom that thorn-headed worms are present in 

 sufficient numbers to cause much damage. When they are present 

 in considerable numbers the injuries caused by them to the lining 

 of the intestines may cause digestive disturbances, derangement of 

 the nervous system, loss of flesh and irregular appetite. 



Post-mortem Findings. At the points of attachment to the in- 

 testine a lump or small abscess in the intestinal wall is formed. 

 This is plainly visible from the outside and resembles to some ex- 

 tent the lesion of tuberculosis. 



Treatment. Prevent hogs from having access to manure piles 

 or other places infested with the white grubs. 



Turpentine treatment as recommended for removal of the com- 

 mon round worm, Ascaris suilla, is recommended as the best for the 

 removal of the thorn-headed worm. 



Pin Worm (Oesophagostoma dentatum). 

 This is a species of small worm found inhabiting the large in- 



