WORMS. 187 



Mr. Mahon haa had many Borzois under his professional notice, and 

 expelled Ttenia echinoeoceus from them. I recommend a peruaal of 

 Mr. Mahon'a article, which space prevents me from reproducing 

 here. He finds that tliis tapeworm haa greatly increased iu our 

 dogs, and attributes that, first, to the direct Import of infested 

 dogs from the countries referred to and North Germany ; secondly, 

 to the viscera of imported cattle in which the Echinoeoceus exists in 

 cystic form, 8^ it of course will do in our own stock if dogs carrying 

 this tapeworm are allowed to roam over paature-land. Not only 

 are the herbivora bearers of the hydatid form, called EcMnococaui 

 veterinorum, but man also ; and in him it seta up a. verj' serious 

 disease. Iu Iceland, parta of North Germany, parts of Bussia, and 

 also in Australia the Echinoeoceus is veiy prevalent In dogs and 

 other animals, as well as in man. 



I have said enough to show how very serious may be the results 

 from importing dogs carrying this tapeworm. Further, I would 

 strongly recommend aU who obtain dogs from countries where its 

 prevalence is known, to place them at once under the care of a 

 veterinary surgeon who has specially studied this branch of hLe 

 profession. 



T(xrda camna {T(Bnia cueumerina of some authors). — This \s one of 

 the most abundant tapeworms of the dog, attaining a length vaiy- 

 Ing from 10cm. to 40cm. and 3mm. at its greatest breadth. In 

 Its larval state it is known as Crvptocystis trichodectes, from the fact 

 of the dog-lotise {Trichodectes latue) being one of its intermediaries. 

 It has been ascertained that the dog flea QPulex serratioeps'), and also 

 the flea that lives on man (_Pulex irritann'). serve as intermediaries of 

 this tapeworm. When the ripe segments leave the dog per anus 

 they are charged with ova, and possessing the power of motion 

 wriggle among the hair, where the Uce and fleas devour the eggs 

 and develop into the cryptocysts found by Graasi free in the abdo- 

 minal cavity. The dog, again, in searching for his tormentors, 

 nibbles and licks his skin and coat, and in this way swallows the 

 insect, and when the contained cryptocyst is set fiee in the dog's 

 stomach th« tapeworm is once more developed. The nimble flea 

 travels so readily from one host to another, carrying thLs tape- 

 worm with him, that we have an explanation of what has puzzled 

 so many — how a carefully fed and groomed house pet dog becomes 

 Infested with tapeworm. Evidently the introducer was the strange 

 dog, the neighbour he stopped to fraternise with or lay alongside of 

 at the show, that brought him the guest tliat so often " works bim 

 mickle woe." This should be a strong incentive to the practical 

 adoption of the maxim of John Soott, huntsman to the Albrightos 

 Hounds, " not a flea in the kennel." 



