WORMS 97 



which, does the greatest harm, and is often found even in 

 puppies a few days old. It inhabits the smallest intes- 

 tines, and is sometimes vomited by the dog, and then it 

 is probable that it comes from the bowels to the stomach, 

 and is ejected from the irritation it causes there. It 

 varies considerably in length, as much as from two to 

 eight inches; it is round, varying in thickness with its 

 length, it is of a dirty white colour and pointed at both 

 ends, and is often passed coiled together in masses or 

 balls. The tape-worm is a long flat worm, divided into 

 joints often attaining to six or eight feet in length, and is 

 most difficult to expel in its entirety ; it inhabits the small 

 intestines, and is much worse than the round-worm in its 

 effects upon the animal's health. With both round and 

 tape worms the dog's appetite is ravenous, and yet the food 

 does no good. The coat is harsh and staring, and without 

 gloss ; the breath is offensive and the bowels irregular. 

 It is an infallible sign of the presence of worms when the 

 dog ' draws his chariot ' — i.e. sits on the ground and drags 

 itself along with the fore feet. In young dogs, fits and 

 diarrhoea are the outcome from them, and paralysis in old 

 animals. 



If the head be sought for in tape-worm, the usual order 

 of things is reversed with this parasite, as it is the neck 

 and not the tail that tapers ; it diminishes in breadth 

 towards the head, and if this is not passed, it will go on 

 forming fresh joints as long as it remains in the body; 

 and the medicines should be repeated until it is voided. 

 Mr. Sewell, M.R.O.V.S., says he is strongly of opinion that 

 pups obtain the eggs of worms from the mother's teats, 

 which collect there when the mother lies about, and are 

 swallowed by the pups in sucking ; and he advises that two 

 days before she whelps her teats should be washed with a 

 warm solution of Sanitas, with an application of soap, and 

 to repeat this ablution twice a week till the pups are re- 

 moved (of course this does not apply to toy house-dogs). 

 When worms appear in pups, it is generally soon after 

 they are weaned, when the stomach becomes distended 



H 



