354 



ATONIC DISEASES. 



kidney of the dog, as well as that of the wolf, otter, raccoon, glut 

 ton, horse, and bull, (see fig. 50). It is generally of a dark blood- 

 color, which seems to be owing to the nature of its food, which is 

 derived from the vessels of the kidney, as, when suppuration has 

 taken place round it, the worm has been 

 found of a whitish hue. In the human 

 kidney it has been known to attain tbe 

 length of three feet, with a diameter of 

 half an inch. The head (), is obtuse, 

 the mouth orbicular and surrounded by 

 six hemispherical papilla (A) ; the body 

 is slightly impressed witli a circular 

 striae, and with two longitudinal impres- 

 sions. The tail is incurved in the male 

 and terminated by a dilated point or 

 bursa (B), from the base of which the 

 single intromittent spiculum (>), projects. 

 In the female, the caudal extremity is 

 less attenuated and straighter, with the 

 anus (c), a little below the apex." I have 

 been thus particular in inserting descrip- 

 tions of these worms, because their study 

 is becoming more general, and they pre- 

 sent a large field for the microscopic 

 inquirer. 



Indications of worms in the dog 

 should be carefully noted and anxiously 

 looked for, if the health of the animal 

 is of any importance. They are, an un- 

 healthy appearance of the coat, the 

 Fig. 50. KIDNEY-WORM, hair looking dead and not lying smoothly 

 and evenly. The appetite is ravenous 



in proportion to the condition, which is generally low, though 

 worms may exist for months without interfering much with 

 the presence of fat. After a time, however, the fat of the 

 body is absorbed, and the muscles, without being firm and promi 



