Gapes and Worms of Poultry. 



usually located in the duodenum. The commonest species at 

 one time seemed to be the H. inlexa of Rudolphi, a white 

 worm which is described as being from 7 to 12 cm. long in 

 the female and from 3 to 8 cm. long in the male. I have 

 never, however, seen them this length. During the last 

 four years I have scarcely seen one of this species, but 

 numbers of the small white worm, H. papulosa, the largest 

 of which was a female measuring 14 mm. in length ; the 

 males varying from 7 to 9 mm. A common habit of both 

 these worms seems to be to knot themselves together in a 

 lump in the intestine. I have found as many as fifteen 

 tightly rolled together into a ball, thus forming a plug in the 

 duodenum, causing obstruction and death. 



They apparently develop direct from the eggs, which are 

 probably obtained in polluted water or taken off the ground 

 by the birds. Most cases of this parasitic disease that have 

 come to my notice have been in old hens. 



The worms may usually be seen in the droppings. 

 Frequent attacks of diarrhoea set in when numbers of parasites 

 are present. The patient becomes ravenous and loses con- 

 dition. 



Prevention and Treatment. 



Needless to say, just as in gapes, every bird attacked should 

 be isolated, so that the droppings may be easily and surely 

 destroyed. 



If any signs of these pests appear where only a small 

 number of birds are kept in confined areas, it is advisable 

 to dose all the birds. Before doing so they should be given 

 only a small quantity of soft food for a day before. By far 

 the best nematocide is Thymol. It can be administered to fowls 

 in one grain doses made up into pills of dough. One dose 

 is as a rule sufficient, but if the worms are very abundant, a 

 second dose next day is advisable ; each pill should be 

 followed by a teaspoonful of sweet oil about two or three hours 

 after it has been given. 



Santonin may be administered in a similar way in three 

 grain doses, but is not nearly so certain in action as Thymol. 



After an outbreak, if in confined spaces, the land should 



