312 Veterinary Medicine. 



ing the kidney uraemia and various nervous disorders, and in 

 both, dropsical effusion affecting the limbs, the lower aspect of 

 the body ; or the peritoneum or other serous cavity. Violent 

 hepatic or renal colic will sometimes occur from the impaction of 

 one of the detached scolices in the biliary duct or ureter. Such 

 attacks are liable to be intermittent, relief coming with the passage 

 of the obstructing agent. 



When an echinococcus approaches the .skin fluctuation may 

 sometimes be detected, and a tremor or thrill is described as char- 

 acteristic. In such cases the fluid drawn off through a small 

 cannula is found charged with sodium chloride, and if centrifuged 

 the precipitate is likely to show the characteristic booklets. 



As symptoms vary with the organ affected it may be well to 

 say that the relative frequency of their inva-sion is about as fol- 

 lows : first, the liver ( j^ to y^ of all cases. Davaine, Cobbold, 

 etc.); second, the various other abdominal organs (.spleen, kid- 

 neys, omentum, etc.), the abdominal walls and the lungs ; third, 

 the brain, heart, muscles, bones and other organs. 



Geographical Distribution. Echinococcus is concentrated in 

 given geographical areas, into which the parasite has been intro- 

 duced, and where it has special opportunities for propagation by 

 reason of the number of dogs and their intimate relation with man 

 and domestic animals. In Iceland where dogs are half as numer- 

 ous as men sheep suffer to the extent of 20 to 100 per cent. 

 (Hjaltelin), and 10,000 people at the same time (Krabbe). In 

 Mecklenburg 26 to 50 per cent, of oxen, 75 per cent, of sheep 

 and 5 to 8 per cent, of pigs become victims (Madelung). In 

 Prussia 200,000 francs are lost yearly by echinococcus (Schmidt). 

 In India 70 per cent, of the cattle have liver echinococcus (Neu- 

 mann). Among the Buratis in Eastern Siberia, Kaschin found 

 echinococcus in liver and heart of every one of the human popu- 

 lation on whom he made a post-mortem examination. These 

 people live in winter in the same tents with their cattle and dogs, 

 washing neither their bodies nor dishes and wearing their clothes 

 till they fall to pieces. L,ike the Icelanders they let the dogs 

 clean their plates by licking them (Leuckart). Abyssinia closely 

 follows Iceland and Siberia in the prevalence of echinococcus arid 

 Australia follows with a very large number of cases in both 

 animals and men. (Thomas). The absence of any winter in 



