38 
Magazine  of  the  School  of  Agriculture . 
ZOOLOGICAL  NOTES  FOE  AGRICULTURAL 
STUDENTS. 
Having  traced  the  life  history  of  the  tapeworms 
(Taniada)  we  may  name  some  of  the  common 
species  of  tapeworm  and  consider  their  impor- 
tance to  the  agricultural  student.  Before  doing 
so  it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  term  11  hydatid  ” 
is  applied  to  the  scolex  or  cystic  form  of  the 
tapeworm.  Tania  Echinococcus  is  a tape  worm 
occurring  in  the  dog,  its  hydatid  ( Echinococcus 
veterinoruni ) being  found  in  all  animals  and  in 
man  : Tania  ccenurus  also  occurs  in  the  dog.  and 
its  hydatid  (Cart  ur  us  cerebralis')  is  found  in  the 
sheep  and  ox,  and  occasionally  in  man;  the 
Tania  marginata  occurs  in  the  cystic  or  hydatid 
form  as  Cysticercus  tennuicollis  in  the  sheep,  ox, 
and  occasionally  in  other  animals  also  ; Tan  a ser- 
rata  of  the  dog  gives  rise  to  the  hydatid  cysticercus 
pisiformis  in  the  rabbit ; the  Tania  solium  of  man 
causes  the  hydatid  cysticercus  cellulosa  found 
in  the  pig  ; and  the  Tania  mediocanellata  of  mail 
is  produced  by  the  hydatid  Cysticercus  bovis  in  the 
ox.  These  are  only  some  individuals  of  the  tape- 
worm family.  Though  the  tapeworm  Tania  echrno- 
cccus  is  itself  the  smallest  and  most  insignificant 
of  the  species,  its  hydatid,  E.  veterinoruni  is  the 
most  universally  distributed  of  all  hydatids,  and 
from  a sanitary  point  of  view  at  least,  it  is  the  most 
important.  The  hydatid  is  found  mainly  in  the 
liver  and  in  the  lungs  of  cattle,  more  frequently  in 
adults  and  in  the  aged  than  in  young  animals. 
Horses,  sheep  and  pigs  and  other  small  animals  suffer 
in  a much  smaller  degree  than  do  cattle.  The 
hydatids  may  be  in  the  form  of  simple  cysts  con- 
taining apparently  a clean  serum,  they  may 
assume  the  form  of  multiple  cysts  formed  in  the 
interior  of  a primary  cyst,  or  there  may  be 
several  cysts  developed  from  the  exterior  of  a 
primary  one.  In  the  earlier  stages  of  their 
formation  they  contain  a limpid  fluid  which 
if  set  at  rest  in  a glass  vessel  sometimes  deposits 
a fine  sediment  resembling  grains  of  fine  sand, 
each  one  of  which  will  be  found  on  microscopic 
examination  to  represent  an  embryonic  tapeworm. 
In  the  advanced  stages  of  their  growth  these 
cysts  undergo  degeneration  and  become  of  a 
yellow  colour  and  opaque,  a large  portion  of 
their  contents  becoming  absorbed.  In  this  state 
they  may  be  mistaken  for  tuberculosis.  The 
existence  of  these  hydatids  in  any  organ 
warrants  its  condemnation  as  an  article  of  food, 
as  though  no  direct  harm  can  accrue  from  its  con- 
sumption by  man,  the  idea  of  eating  such 
organs  is  repulsive,  and  a vast  amount  of  in- 
direct harm  may  be  produced  by  allowing  such 
organs  to  be  used  for  feeding  dogs,  as  the 
tapeworm  is  thereby  perpetuated  in  the  intes- 
tines of  these  animals  and  the  segments  of 
the  worm  passing  out  with  the  fteces  may  con- 
taminate food.  The  presence  of  these  hydatids 
in  large  numbers  in  the  structures  of  important 
organs  may  by  pressure  or  by  setting  up  chronic 
inflammation  so  far  interfere  with  or  even 
annihilate  the  functions  of  the  organs  as  to 
bring  about  marked  changes  in  the  flesh  ; thus 
if  the  liver  is  largely  invaded  jaundice,  ema- 
ciation and  dropsy  may  be  present ; if  the  lungs’ 
oxidation  is  interfered  with  and  the  flesh 
becomes  dark  ; if  the  kidneys  uraemia,  dropsy  &c. 
may  result. 
The  Canurus  cerebralis  or  many-headed  hydatid 
is  found  mainly  in  the  brain  and  the  'spinal 
canal  of  the  ox  and  sheep  (mostly  in  young 
animals.)  It  is  occasionally  found  in  the  muscles 
of  animals  and  has  been  discovered  in  those  of 
man.  Its  progenitor  is  the  Tania  ccenurus  of 
the  dog.  In  the  early  stages  it  does  not  produce 
any  important  effects,  but  if  allowed  to  increase 
in  size  and  to  cause  absorption  of  the  brain 
structure,  the  host  rapidly  emaciates,  becomes 
anaemic,  exhibits  symptoms  of  brain  derange- 
ment, and  in  the  end  dies  from  inanition  or 
exhaustion.  Though  no  deleterious  effects  are 
directly  produced  on  the  flesh,  indirect  harm 
may  result  in  advanced  cases  from  the  innu- 
tritions quality  of  the  flesh.  As  in  the  case  of 
the  Echinococcus  much  may  be  done  to  diminish 
the  prevalence  of  this  tapeworm  by  adopting 
the  plan  of  destroying  the  bladder  worm  when 
it  is  removed  from  the  host  instead  of  throwing 
j it,  as  is  often  done,  to  the  dogs,  or  allowing 
! it  to  lie  about  tor  these  animals  to  pick 
J up  and  devour,  thus  perpetuating  the  tapeworm 
in  their  own  intestines. 
CATTLE:  AND  THE  NEED  OF  A PROPER 
SYSTEM  FOR  VETERINARY  WORK. 
Says  the  Indian  Agriculturist: — In  order  to 
calm  the  anxiety  of  the  public  respecting  the 
consumption  of  milk  from  diseased  cows,  the 
French  authorities  have  passed  a law  requiring 
Paris  dairymen  henceforth,  when  stocking  their 
sheds,  to  produce  a certificate  from  the  official 
veterinary  surgeon  in  whose  district  the  animal 
has  been  purchased,  that  the  milch  cow  is  free 
from  organic  disease.  They  must  also  advise  the 
similar  officials  in  the  city  of  the  arrival  of  the 
purchase.  As  a further  protection  all  dairy  cattle 
are  to  be  inspected  monthly  by  the  Government 
veterinary  surgeon,  who  is  also  empowered  to 
report  on  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  cow 
stables  and  surroundings.  These  measures  are 
not  untimely  in  presence  of  the  heavy  human 
mortality  from  tuberculous  affections,  of  the 
increasing  use  of  milk  as  a diet,  and  of  the 
communication  of  tuberculosis  from  the  milk 
from  diseased  cows — a fact  now  placed  beyond 
controversy'.  More  careful  inspection  of  Indian 
dairies,  especially  in  large  cities,  is  very- 
necessary'. 
Here  is  an  excellent  precedent  for  our  own 
authorities  to  follow,  now  that  we  have  a 
Colonial  Veterinary  Surgeon  who  is  not  over 
burdened  with  work,  and  no  doubt  is  anxious 
to  have  some  regular  duties  to  perform,  and  at 
the  same  time  have  an  opportunity  of  showing 
some  good  results  of  his  labour.  At  present  we 
believe  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Sanitary  Officer  to 
inspect  diseased  cattle  and  visit  cattle  sheds 
within  Municipal  limits.  Now  apart  from  the 
fact  that  the  time  of  that  officer  is  sufficiently 
occupied  with  looking  after  the  sanitation  of  the 
town  and  the  health  of  the  public,  he  will  no 
doubt  be  the  first  to  admit  that  the  subject  of  cattle 
and  their  diseases  is  foreign  to  his  province,  and 
one  to  which  he  has  had  no  opportunity  of  giving 
any  special  attention.  The  late  Attapattu  Muda- 
liyar  was  well  known  to  be  most  zealous  for  the 
suppression  of  cattle  disease  and  the  proper 
