DISEASES OF DOGS— WORMS. 47y 



Where imperfection does not appear either mentally or other- 

 wise as the result of a plurality of sires, it must be looked upon as 

 the result of an accident, which will not readily bear repetition. 



Is more than one copulation necessary to successful impregna- 

 tion? — More than one sexual congress is not necessary to impreg- 

 nation, though it is sometimes advisable for the following reasons. 



Young bitches, when desiring the male, eject a viscous fluid 

 from the glands of the vagina, the mouth of uterus, and the neigh- 

 boring parts. In some respects it appears to be the analogue of 

 the periodical discharges of those of the same sex among animals 

 that assume the erect posture. These discharges are always proof 

 that the female has arrrived at the age of puberty ; that her ovary 

 is now performing its office, and that she is disposed to propagate 

 her kind. Whatever be the cause of this orgasmus, it is often so 

 strong as to counteract the natural effects of the seminal fluid, and 

 prevenc impregnation. For this reason \n3Xiy young and lascivious 

 bitches do not conceive immediately upon the first coition. It is 

 sometimes a practice to beat the female, plunge her in water, weary 

 her with running, and to use other means after copulation to pre- . 

 vent the return of sexual desire, and its resultant secretions. 



DISEASES OF DOGS.— WORMS. 



Of the number of ifls canine flesh is heir to, intestinal parasites 

 is one of the most common. Of these there are three varieties, 

 viz., the ascarus mystax, or round worm — the analogue of a. lum- 

 bricoides in man, oxyuris vermicularis, or thread worm, and three 

 species of tcenia, or tape worm. Besides these a fourth variety 

 known as tricocephalus dispar, is said to be sometimes met with. 

 The fasciola hepatica inhabits the liver. These last two, how- 

 ever, we have nothing to do with, as" too rare to merit notice. 



The first, a, mystax, or round worm, is the animal most com 

 monly met with, and the one that usually demands the interfer 

 ence of medicine, and serves to amuse the man who delights ii 

 prescribing for his animals, and upon whose backs all ills ars 

 placed, which should ofttimes be borne by the master of the ani- 

 mal who.se interior is inhabited. It is much smaller than the cor- 

 responding parasite in the human race, attaining a length of but 



