4 MISC. PUBLICATION 7 9, U. S. DEPT. OP AGRICULTURE 



cation of anthelmintics, although some, such as turpentine, santonin, 

 male fern, carbon disulphide, sodium arsenite, and thymol have con- 

 siderable anthelmintic efficacy against certain parasites of different 

 species of animals, including man. Some criticism might be directed 

 at the method of administering drugs in the clay preparation. In 

 general, anthelmintics administered in the feed or with other bulky 

 substances do not maintain the same efficacy as when given alone. 

 However, the use of clay as a vehicle for administering drugs has 

 not been tested with the standard anthelmintics, and it is not possible 

 to say just what influence the clay would have on the efficacy of the 

 drug. 



Kovarzik (£), in 1923, reports on the treatment of a herd of 50 

 swine with a product marketed under the name of Vermithan. Two 

 animals in this herd had died before treatment was undertaken, ap- 

 parently as a result of a heavy infestation with thornheads. Follow- 

 ing the treatment, the herd improved in condition. One animal died 

 two days after treatment and was found to have an intestinal obstruc- 

 tion due to the clumping of numerous thornheads, which were found 

 dead. 



Magyary-Kossa (7), in 1922, gave the composition of Vermithan as 

 a 10 per cent solution of isobornylacetate, pine camphor, and juniper 

 extract in carbon tetrachloride. According to Magyary-Kossa, the 

 dose of this preparation for swine is 0.5 gram per kilogram of body 

 weight, the drug to be followed by from 1 to 1.5 grams of calomel. 

 Unfortunately Kovarzik gives no information as to the dose he used. 

 Furthermore, his evidence on the value of Vermithan is of a clinical 

 nature and is not substantiated by critical tests. 



Kocourek (5), in 1877, reported remarkable improvement in a herd 

 of swine following treatment for thornheads with turpentine in doses 

 of 2 grams with double that amount of a flaxseed decoction. This 

 was later followed by 10 grams of Epsom salt and 5 grams of aloes. 

 Kocourek's results are not based on critical data and are not substan- 

 tiated by Wolffhugel's critical test, which indicated that turpentine 

 is of no appreciable value for the removal of thornheads. 



SUMMARY 



In summarizing the literature on the treatment of thorn-headed 

 worms in swine, it is found that turpentine, first recommended on 

 clinical grounds, showed little efficacy when tested critically. 



Extract of male fern, which in a dose of 8 grams apparently re- 

 moved all Moniliformis moniliformis from one infested person, failed 

 in doses of 4 c. c. in Raffensperger's experiments and in doses of 6.7, 

 3.3, and 5 grams, respectively, in Wolffhugel's experiments, to remove 

 any thornheads from swine. 



In critical tests conducted by Wolffhiigel, santonin, picric acid, 

 carbon disulphide, sodium arsenite, naphthalene, calomel, glycerin- 

 ferric chloride, glycerin-chloroform-potassium cyanide, lysol, ben- 

 zine, thymol, potassium cyanide, balsam of Peru, sulphur, tobacco 

 extract, copper oxide, salicylic acid, tartar emetic, borax, bismuth 

 subnitrate, vinegar, iodoform, pulverized pyrethrum flowers, and 

 petroleum were without any value whatsoever against thornheads. 



