ASCARIS MARGINATA. 335 
days, and a laxative seems necessary, sweet-oil or castor-oil will be suitable. 
To administer such, however, two or three hours after every dose of the drug, 
as some writers have advised, would not be wise, for santonin acts slowly, and 
if hurried out of the system by a cathartic it could not have the desired effect. 
Furthermore, when either of those oils is given with it the quantity should 
not be over one-half that required for cathartic action. 
After puppies have passed the fourth month, for general use about the 
safest and most reliable vermifuge is areca nut, provided they are fairly well 
and strong. This, the fruit of an East Indian tree, loses its effectiveness on 
keeping, hence the young and fresh nuts, which are light colored, should be 
chosen. They should also be powdered only as required ; and that can be done 
on a common nutmeg-grater. 
After the age stated a very nice adjustment of doses of areca nut is not ne- 
cessary, and to puppies four months old, of such breeds as setters and collies, 
also of the largest breeds, an evez teaspoonful may be given. For fox-terriers, 
pugs, and the like, the dose should be about one-half, and for toy-terriers, one- 
fourth of an even teaspoonful. 
When evex full an ordinary teaspoon holds about sixteen grains of powdered 
areca nut; and it is measured in this way: Take up a heaping teaspoonful of 
the powder, and with a card, or the straight back of a knife-blade, sweep off all 
above the edges of the spoon. 
When necessary to give one-half or one-fourth this quantity, pour an even 
teaspoonful onto a plate, and with a knife divide it into two or four piles of 
uniform size. 
Now and then it may seem advisable to try areca nut on puppies consider- 
ably under four months of age, other remedies having failed. In such event 
the doses should not be over one-half those advised after the fourth month. 
For example, assuming that the puppies are setters or collies, or of largest 
breeds, and about two months old, the dose for them would be about eight 
grains; for fox-terriers, four grains; for toy-terriers, two grains. 
When the sixth month is reached the dose for toy-terriers may be about one- 
half greater than at the fourth month, or six grains. With these toy breeds 
thereafter the increase should be slow and not considerable; six grains being 
quite enough for them until about the eighth or ninth month, when the dose 
may be eight grains. Further increase after that age might not always be 
safe. 
For fox-terriers and puppies of breeds of similar size, the doses may be 
increased by about one-fourth of the first every third month after the fourth. 
For example, at that period it is one-half an even teaspoonful or eight grains. 
Then about the seventh month it would be three-fourths of an even teaspoon- 
ful, or twelve grains; the tenth month, an even teaspoonful, or sixteen grains ; 
while once fully matured they may safely be given about one even teaspoonful 
and one-half. 
