274 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



tions ; cod-liver oil, gentian, wine, and ferruginous preparations. 

 (See Pernicious Anemia.J 



IV. Oxyuris. 



Among the varieties of oxyuris in our animals we must men- 

 tion : 



a. In the horse : Oxyuris curvula and Oxyuris mastigodes. 



b. In the dog : Oxyuris vermicularis. 



The worms, on leaving the large intestine, fix themselves upon 

 the rectal mucous membrane, irritate it, and produce proctitis. 

 The pruritus occasioned by this latter is a cause of continued rub- 

 bing ; many horses, which are tormented by these parasites, have 

 a rat tail. The diagnosis is established either by the presence of 

 the worms in the excrements or upon the exploring arm, or it 

 may be by the finding of the eggs in the scabs surrounding the tail 

 or in the anal cavity. 



Quite recently Friedberger has found upon several horses the 

 Oxym'is mastigodes, a species that has also been seen by Nitzsch 

 upon a horse which for a certain time consumed dandelion (Leon- 

 todon taraxacum). 



This oxyuris, which is undoubtedly not very rare, is distinguished 

 from the Oxyuris curvula by its greater dimensions, by the size of 

 its tail, which is very thin (the female measures 13 centimetres, 

 and has a tail 10 J centimetres long), and also by the eggs, which 

 are very glutinous.^ 



We combat the oxyuris with vinegar injections, weak sublimate 

 solutions (0.5 to 1 per cent.), or with soap- water. The administra- 

 tion of vermifuges is not necessary. 



V. Giant Echinorrhynchus of the Pig. 



According to Schneider's researches, we must admit that the 

 larvae of the echinorrhynchus are ingested by the pig with the 

 white worms, and perhaps also with the June bugs. This latter 

 mode of infection has been seen in man. 



Autopsy. The anatomical alterations of the mucous membrane 

 of the small intestine are considerable. The echinorrhynchus, 

 with the help of his armed trunk, penetrates deeply into the 

 mucous inembrane, and causes serious inflammatory alterations, 



* According to Railliet, Oxyuris mastigodes is but a form of Oxyuris curvula. — n. D T. 



