414 ATONIC DISEASES. 
for, if the health of the animal is of any importance. They are, 
an unhealthy appearance of the coat, the hair looking dead and 
not lying smoothly and evenly ; appetite 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 prominent, are marked with inter- 
vening lines from its absence. The faces are passed frequently and in 
small quantities, the separate passage of a small quantity of mucus 
each time being particularly indicative of worms, especially if there 
is first a solid lump, and then a small portion of frothy mucus. The 
spirits also are dull, the nose hot and dry, and the breath offensive. 
These signs are only present to the full extent when the dog is 
troubled with tape-worm, or with the round-worm in large quanti- 
ties; the maw-worm being only slightly injurious in comparison 
with the others, and seldom producing the whole of the above 
train of symptoms. The kidney-worm, of course, has no effect 
upon the intestinal secretions, but it produces blocdy urine, more 
or less mixed with pus. Still, as these are often present without 
this worm, it is impossible to predict its existence during life 
with any degree of certainty. When worms are suspected, in 
order to distinguish the species, it is better to give a dose of 
calomel and jalap (16), unless the dog is very weakly, when the 
areca nut may be substituted (65); and then, by watching the 
feces, the particular worm may be detected and the treatment 
altered accordingly. 
The expulsion of the worms is the proper method of treatment in 
all cases, taking care afterwards to prevent their regeneration, by 
strengthening the system, and by occasional doses of the medicine 
suited to remove the worm in question. All vermifuges act as 
poisons to the worms themselves, or as mechanical irritants; the 
former including the bulk of these medicines, and the latter pow- 
dered glass and tin as well as cowhage. These poisons are all 
more or less injurious to the dog, and in spite of every precaution 
fatal results will occur after most of them, even the areca nut, 
innocent as it is said to be, having occasionally nearly destroyed the 
life of valuable dogs under careful superintendence. There is a 
wonderful difference in the power of resisting the action of reme- 
