24 The Sclerostome Worms of the Horse. 



A Remedy for Sclerostome Worms. — All sclerostome diseases 

 have long baffled curative treatment, but thanks to the 

 suggestion of Dr. Blanc, of Cannes, a remedy is now known 

 for the intestinal and mucous attacks of these pests, which 

 has in all cases proved successful. This nematocide is 

 Thymol. ThymoJ, although used for the first time in England 

 as a horse nematocide, has been employed previously as a 

 human drug. Thymol was first used in a case of a severe 

 epizootic of sclerostomes that I investigated at Charlbury, by 

 Miss Dillon in her stud of Arabs. The dose administered 

 was fifteen grains in the morning and again at night, 

 followed by a mild purgative. Ten grains is sufficient for a 

 foal. Sir George Brown informs me he has used as much as 

 three drachms without any evil results. Another corre- 

 spondent gave sixty grains without any serious symptoms. 

 In one of Capt. Cullen's fillies bleeding at the nose 

 follow^ed the dose of Thymol, but not in any serious form. 

 From previous experience fifteen grains maybe taken as suffi- 

 cient to stem the advance of the disease, but in foals ten grains 

 is ample. Experiments have shown that these doses kill not 

 only the free worms in the intestinal contents, but also those 

 in the cysts. Practically all Nematodes are affected by 

 this substance, A scar is megalocephala, being readily expelled 

 by it. It may, therefore, be generally substituted for san- 

 tonine, which is extremely erratic in behaviour. 



In experiments conducted in dogs, Cestode or Tape 

 worms were not moved by Thymol ; it is apparently valueless 

 as a taenicide. The dose for round worms in dogs should not 

 exceed two grains. Three grains produced partial prostration 

 in a bull-terrier. In fowls one grain doses have caused the 

 rapid expulsion of Heterakis worms. Cats can also take two- 

 grain doses without being affected. 



Thymol is best dissolved in spirit ; fifteen grains easily dis- 

 solve in an ounce of spirit, and should be administered in milk. 



Should worms still be passed, a second dose two days 

 following is sufficient to complete the cure. As the worms 

 in the walls of the intestines are destroyed, repeated doses 

 are not necessary. 



Fred. V. Theobald, M.A., F.E.S. 



