PARASITES. 
surprising when we know that an organ of such importance as the 
liver is the seat of disease. The secretion of the liver, namely the 
bile, has a most important office to perform. When the ducts are 
crowded by these creatures, the pressure, irritation, etc., must lead 
to impaired secretion and consequent alteration in the quality and 
quantity of the bile. The gland gradually ceases to perform its 
office in an efficient manner, thus the blood becomes affected and 
impure in quality. The flukes as they become mature travel up 
from the main channel into its numerous ramifications in the liver, 
for the purpose of depositing their eggs. The result of this persis- 
tent irritation is increased vascular action, which leads to the coats 
of the ducts being considerably thickened and their calibre decreased. 
Symptoms. — Dulness, lassitude, frequent yawning, general 
unthriftiness shown by a dry scurfy skin ; the appetite fastidious, 
one day the patient eats well and on the following day is off 
feed," possibly only eating earth ; thirst is frequent, the membranes 
are pale or yellowish in colour, the mouth clammy ; there may be 
puffiness about the head and shoulders ; frequent attacks of severe 
and often persistent foetid and dark-coloured diarrhoea, which usually 
contains specimens of the offending parasite ; this symptom is parti- 
cularly pronounced in the case of amphistomes ; there is gradually 
or rapidly progressing debility and loss of flesh ; later on dropsical 
swellings, finally extreme exhaustion ending in death. 
Treatment : Preventive. — Consists in following out what has 
already been laid down with regard to the management of the 
elephant in health with especial reference to food, which should not be 
procured from wet or marshy tracts (wet being essential to the 
development of these parasites), good water, and an ample allowance 
^of salt. When flukes are discovered, the animals must be removed 
to high grou7td. 
If mahouts carefully inspect the dung daily as they should do, 
parasites would often be discovered at an early stage before 
the elephant becomes debilitated, and successful treatment and 
early restoration to health would probably ensue. Inspection must 
be close and careful, for these dangerous parasites are very small 
and their presence very easily overlooked. 
The dung of any animals found suffering from worms should be 
collected and mixed with carbolic powder or chloride of lime or 
destroyed by fire. 
Diarrhoea need not be checked unless very severe or the animal 
very weak. Stimulants, such as brandy, rum, etc., are at such a 
time of service. 
Curative. — .S^^ Vermifuges, Formulae 47 to 53, Tonics — 39 to 
.46, also 85 and 86. 
