4^2 DOGS USED FOR SPORT. 



grown, and filled to bursting with eggs. They then commence 

 slowly to descend the large intestine, and finally deposit the chief 

 part of their eggs in the rectum ; they occasionally even leave the 

 iatter and creep about on the moist skin around the anus. By this 

 it will be seen that the generally prevalent idea, and that which is 

 upheld in all the books, that the oxyuris inhabits the rectum, is en- 

 tirely false. The untenability of this view should have long since 

 been deduced from the fact that it is impossible to get rid- of the 

 worms by most thorough local treatment applied to the rectum. 



The symptoms of the presence of these worms are rather vague, 

 except where they descend to the rectum, to lay their eggs, and 

 cause, by their active boring movements, and unbearable tickling 

 and painful itching just within and in the folds of the anus, which 

 frequently become so unbearable as to cause the poor dog to en- 

 deavor by every change of posture, by dragging his rump upon the 

 ground, by biting, and by walking about, to cause the troublesome 

 sensations to cease. As a rule, however, they last for considerable 

 time, and only go away, sooner or later to again appear. Some- 

 times emptying the rectum brings ease by removing mechanically 

 the worms that were buried there. 



Bitches arc further inconvenienced by worms that have escaped 

 from the rectum, creeping into the vulva and vagina, and there giv- 

 ing rise, from their serpentine and boring movements, to very great 

 irritation of the sexual organs. 



Except as local irritants, these parasites exercise no prejudicial 

 effect upon the animal. The diagnosis of the disorder is usually 

 easy, as if very many worms are present, we can usually find one 

 or two on the skin in the neighborhood of the anus, especially 

 directly after the fseces have been voided, which also usually 

 contain them. 



So long as the rectum was looked upon as the chief seat of 

 these worms, there could be no hope of thoroughly getting rid of 

 them. Since this worm inhabits the caecum, all internal medicines 

 which are absorbed in the small intestine are without effect. We 

 are forced to re-echo the complaints of Bremser, who says : " Their 

 number is legion, and if, after we have slaughtered thousands, we 

 lay our weapons aside for a moment, imagining ourselves safe from 

 a fresh attack, new cohorts again advance with increased reinforce- 



