A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
Tonics, especially arsenic, sulphate of iron, copper and mix 
vomica, most useful during convalescence. 
(4) Bladder worms [Hydatids).— TYas is a cystic or bladder-like 
condition met with in various organs and tissues, but more usually 
in the liver, and represents the immature stage of a tape-worm, 
which in its mature condition inhabits the bowels of dogs, wolves 
and jackals. Its cycle of existence is as follows. 
To begin with the egg. This is passed in the faeces of one of 
the above animals and may gain entrance to the alimentary canal of 
an elephant by its feeding on pasturage, etc., contaminated by their 
droppings. The egg having once gained entrance to the stomach 
of the elephant, hatches and liberates an embryo, which displays a 
desire to migrate, passing through the walls of the stomach, by the 
aid of six booklets with which it is provided, to some suitable spot, 
most frequently the liver. Having found a suitable resting place 
it casts these booklets and becomes invested with a fibrous capsule 
or wall. At this stage it is known as a hydatid cyst. 
The hydatid cyst when fully developed consists of a wall with, 
fluid contents, and within it other smaller cysts or bladders are 
developed, and within these again others may form to a third and 
fourth generation. These so-called daughter and grand-daughter 
cysts contain fluid and embryo tape-worms, which are called at 
this stage scolices." The scolices consist of a head identical 
with the adult tape-worm, a constriction separating it from the body, 
and a pedicle or foot which is attached at some stage to the wall, 
of the cyst, but which frequently gives way setting the scolex " 
free. 
The scolex cannot develop further in the elephant. The hydatid 
cyst thus affords a haven for the propagation of the species which 
can only develop to the stage of ''scolices.'^ In doing this it 
increases in size, often to an enormous degree. In order to complete 
the cycle of the creature's existence the scolices '' must find 
their way into the stomach of a dog or kindred animal, which they 
usually do by this animal eating the organs or flesh of an animal, 
infested with hydatids, the sheep perhaps being the most frequent 
source. 
The scolex having reached the canine stomach becomes endowed 
with renewed vitality and develops into a mature tape-worm. 
The mature worm consists of a head furnished with four suckers, 
two rows of booklets and three body segments, the last of which is 
provided with reproductory organs. 
This worm is commonly seen voided with the excreta of dogs 
and measures about f inch in length. The adult worm produces, 
numerous eggs, which are also voided with the dog's excreta. 
