83 



adult state. They do this by rollin-" themselves within the f;tcal 

 matter of the horse's intestine. In this state they lie coiled in the 

 cocoons they make for themselves. In some districts the worm is not 

 often met with, while in others it is most destructive. Air. Lloyd was the 

 first to recognise this worm as the cause of the Welsh epizootic outbreaks. 

 The worm gives rise to emaciation, colic, diarrhoea, and sometimes to 

 int^ammation of the bowels. Sometimes the pain is very acute, and the 

 animal rolls and tosses about in great agony. In other instances, abdominal 

 pain is not a marked feature. Last year we were called to see a team 

 of cart horses, two of which had already died. The remaining two were 

 nuich prostrated and extremely emaciated. Careful examination of the 

 excreta soon re\-ealed to us these characteristic little red worms, as 

 the cause of the mischief. The males are about one-eighth of an 

 inch long, the females two-fifths of an inch. When these worms infest 

 the horse, a full dose of aloes should be given in the first instance, 

 and this should be followed up by giving mashes for a couple of 

 days or so, and then by good nutritious food and the administration of tonic 

 -and stimulating medicines. The following formula is a good one : — of 

 carbonate of ammonium two drachms, the double citrate of iron and 

 ammonium two drachms, ginger, gentian, and treacle, to make an eight 

 ■drachm ball. One ball to be given two or three times daily for three weeks. 

 We may now say a few words regarding the armed strongyle. This 

 ^vorm has long been known to naturalists. Formerly two varieties were 

 described, but these are now known to be the same worm in different stages 

 of growth. The body is rigid, the head flattened and armed with numerous 

 upright denticles like those of a circular saw. The hind ray of the hood of 

 the male is thrice cleft. The males are about an inch and a half long, the 

 females two inches. The eggs are elliptical, and when passed out with the 

 faces, they become hatched in three weeks in mud, and at the same time 

 part with their tails. They next gain access to the bodies of some 

 intermediary host, probably some insect, where they are still further 

 matured, and from thence they gain access to the horse. From the intestinal 



A 



Armed Strongyle. 



a, adult strongyle, natural size ; A, head of adult, enlarged thirty times. d, asexual 



strongyle, natural size ; B, head of asexual strongyle, seen from the point, 



enlarged thirty times. (Zundel). 



