TAPEWORMS OF CHICKENS 193 



treatment : A gallon of a mixture of wheat and oats, to which was added 

 a small tablespoonful of concentrated lye, was cooked slowly for about 

 two hours and allowed to cool. The birds were fasted for about fifteen 

 hours and were then given as much of the mixture as they would eat, 

 with plenty of water. Twelve hours later one of the birds was killed 

 and an examination of the small intestine was made. It was found 

 that nearly aU of the worms in the intestine were loose, the scolices being 

 detached from the wall, and were also apparent^ dead. The rest of 

 the birds were given a second dose twenty-four hours after the first. 

 Many worms had passed with the droppings in from twenty-four to 

 twenty-six hours after the first feeding. Most of the worms in these 

 droppings were dead, but in all probability the embryos were still alive 

 in the mature proglottids. Twelve hours after the second dose was 

 given another bird was killed and it was found that only a few worms 

 were left and all of these were detached and dead. The intestine was 

 filled with a peculiar gray-colored, slimy substance composed mainly 

 of mucus. Many entire worms and fragments were passed with the 

 droppings during the period of feeding. The lye acted to some extent 

 as a purgative. 



"The birds were given normal diet again, and in a few days they 

 showed no symptoms of infection. Eight days after the second dose had 

 been given two more birds were killed and examinations made. One 

 possessed a small fragment of a tapeworm and the other was entirely 

 free. 



"This remedy has been known to many poultry raisers for some time, 

 but they have neglected to use it, mainly on account of the fact that 

 heretofore no definite evidence has ever been presented concerning its 

 actual working possibilities. It may not, and in all probabiHty will not, 

 remove all of the worms, but it does remove most of them so that they 

 are not serious and can be controlled in the flock as a whole." 



