THE KIDNEY WORM (SCLEROSTOMA PINGUICOLA) OF SWINE. 541 



otlier cysts, upon l)eing cut into, were found ^\■ithout parasites and in a 

 necrotic condition. 



It will be noticed that Sclerostoma pinguicola is colloquially known as 

 the kidney worm. In no case, however, has Miss Taylor found it in the 

 kidney substance, but only in the tissue surrounding this organ ; the 

 lard appears to be its normal habitat, at least. 



Just how the eggs leave the kidney fat or enter the bodies of fresh 

 hogs has not been demonstrated, but it does not seem unreasonable to 

 suppose that they eventually find their way out with the urine. Indeed, 

 Dean reports eggs found in the urine. From analogy one is led to 

 believe that no intermediate host is required, but that in all probability 

 the embryos develop for a short time in water, casting several skins, 

 and they eventually gain access to the hogs either through contaminated 

 drinking water or food. 



Because of the hog's habits, it is difficult to see any practical measures 

 which can be adopted to prevent infection. Feeding from troughs 

 and supplying plenty of pure drinking water will decrease but not 

 exclude the disease. Leuckart's advice to the Germans, " Swine should 

 be kept in a less swine-like manner," holds good in all countries and in 

 connection with all diseases. It is equally impossible to suggest prac- 

 tical methods of treatment. This is all the more true because it seems 

 probable that a number of distinct complaints are popularly grouped 

 together by the farmer as kidney-worm disease. 



