286 ENTOZOA. 



to the excellent Frencli work by Davaine, which I have ofttimes 

 previously cited. 



Prevention. — As prophylactic measures are necessarily better 

 than cure, I invite particular attention to this department of the 

 subject; desiring, in an especial manner, to impress upon all 

 sections of the social community a few hints, which, if taken in 

 good part, and subsequently acted upon, cannot, in my opinion, fail 

 to be productive of useful results. Only a few years back, Dr. Todd 

 remarked that there was no subject more obscure than the origin 

 of these hydatids ; but enough, I trust, has been now unfolded to 

 show how wide an advance we have now made in this respect. 

 Consequently, therefore, were are in a position to offer the most 

 satisfactory advice as to the best methods of checking the preva- 

 lence of these larval parasites. We are not, it is true, able to 

 bring about the total abolition of this terrible echinococcus disease ; 

 but, I repeat, we may check it to a noteworthy extent. Indeed, 

 I believe the good offices of sanitary commissioners, as regards 

 the habitations of the poor, and the general enforcement of clean- 

 liness, so strongly insisted upon of late at social science meetings 

 and other gatherings, have already done essential service, in 

 more ways than one. To descend to particularities, however, 

 Leuckart has made some admirable remarks on this head. Speak- 

 ing of the relations which subsist between dog and man he says : — 

 " In order to escape the dangers of infection, the dog must be 

 watched, not only within the house, but whilst he is outside of it. 

 He must not be allowed to visit either slaughter-houses or knac- 

 keries, and care must be taken that neither the offals nor hydatids 

 found in such places are accessible to him. In this matter the 

 sanitary inspector has many important duties to perform. The 

 carelessness with which these offals have hitherto been disposed of, 

 or even purposely given to the dog, must no longer be permitted, if 

 the welfare of the digestive organs of mankind are to be con- 

 sidered. What blessed results may follow from these precautions 

 may be readily gathered from the consideration of the fact that, at 



