442 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



seasons, more especially affecting foals. DiarrhcEa, wasting, 

 colic, and enteritis are prominent symptoms ; the mortality 

 is very high. 



McFadyean* has drawn the urgent attention of the pro- 

 fession to the Uttle we know of the therapeutic measures 

 of dealing with parasitic gastro-enteritis in the herbivora, 

 the losses from which represent an immense sum of money 

 annually. 



The precautionary measure for preventing the spread of 

 disease is the destruction of all ffeces. If these find their 

 way to the land the disease will be perpetuated. Nor 

 should the drinking water be lost sight of ; earlier in 

 these pages we have expressed the view that this is one of 

 the principal methods of parasitic infection, any filthy pond 

 being considered a good enough water-supply for animals. 

 One of the most important measures of preventing parasitic 

 outbreaks is a pure water-supply. This, combined with the 

 destruction of all infected fseces so as to prevent contami- 

 nating the pastures and water, would certainly bring these 

 and other parasitic diseases under effective control. 



Strongylus armatiis is an exceedingly common nematode 

 of equines with a curious history. Entering the body as 

 embryos, probably with the water, they pass in the first 

 instance from the bowel into the circulatory system, pro- 

 ducing parasitic aneurism of the large mesenteric artery. 

 From the artery they pass again to the intestine, where 

 they lie in cysts beneath the mucous membrane. 



It is remarkable, in spite of the grave changes in the 

 wall of the mesenteric artery, what little inconvenience 

 these parasites cause. This is not always the case, 

 aneurismal colic has been described, and some authorities 

 consider it a frequent cause of trouble, though we cannot 

 endorse this view. 



The Filarice are represented by the F. equi found in the 



peritoneal cavity of equines, while F. labiato -j^pillosa 



occurs in that of ruminants. Theiler frequently found it in 



the peritoneum of Texas and Madagascar cattle. F. lachry- 



* Journal of Comparative Pathology, vol. xiii., part i., 1900. 



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