DISEASES AND PARASITES OF THE OSTRICH 235 
pings originally placed on the soil. The propensity of larve for 
climbing vegetation results in rendering infective, any ostrich fodder 
raised on land contaminated by the droppings of infected birds. 
Mature larve will remain alive in a moist atmosphere at room tem- 
perature for fifteen months. They will remain alive in water at a 
low temperature for 138 months. After being kept in ice at a tem- 
perature of 16° to 28° F. for 11 days and released by melting the 
ice, they revive. Larve will travel through soil, so no benefit can 
result from plowing infected ground. 
The possibility that mature larve pass through the skin of the 
ostrich to reach the stomach has been tested by experiment, with neg- 
ative conclusions. Sheep and fowls do not serve as hosts for the 
wireworm. 
Mature larve outside the ostrich may be killed by a liberal ap- 
plication of carbolic acid or lysol in 5 or 6 per cent solution. Sul- 
phurie and hydrochloric acids are effective. 
On gaining access to the ostrich, the larve pass through the third 
and fourth larval stages and develop into the adult worm after the 
fourth molt. 
Ostrich chicks may succumb to infestation by these larve in the 
parasitic stages, before they develop into adult worms. 
Adult birds can tolerate an excessive infestation with wireworm 
provided they are well fed. Once infested, an ostrich will remain 
infective for years and constitute a source of contamination of the 
soil. An infected pasture or pen will remain infected for years by 
reason of the presence of eggs and larve. 
Morbid anatomy. The wireworms are found in the proventric- 
ulus in the lumina of certain deep glands or lying between superficial 
tubular glands or in the depths of the mucosa of certain areas of the 
organ near the entrance of the esophagus. They are demonstrated 
in the fresh stomach by scraping off the mucous layer of the mucosa. 
They are very rarely on the surface but proceed thence upon reach- 
ing maturity. The effect of infestation becomes evident after about 
the 24th day after infection, and subsequently. The layer of mucus 
becomes detached in parts and hemorrhagic infiltration of the mu- 
cosa appears. When the worms are numerous and mature, the mu- 
cosa appears swollen and is covered by a copious amount of mucus. 
This condition designated “ vrotmag” (rotten stomach) by the Boers, 
causes anemia and emaciation of the birds. 
Diagnosis. The presence of worms may be determined by worm 
cultures, that is by placing fresh droppings in a wineglass which is 
