696 
DEATH OF A COLT FROM ENTOZOA. 
without any good effect. In two or three days from this 
time the animal died. 
On opening the abdomen I found all the organs healthy, 
excepting the liver, which contained several small tubercles. 
In the abdomen, however, I discovered a number of worms, 
which, I presume, are like those described by Professor 
Simonds as causing the death of the lambs, except that they 
were from an inch to an inch and a half long. These para¬ 
sites had burrowed under the peritoneum in several places, 
and some were even located in the abdominal muscles. 
Others were adhering to the kidneys, and some to the liver. 
It required a considerable amount of force to detach them, 
which I could not account for until I read Professor Simonds’ 
description of the peculiar formation of the heads of those he 
met with in the abomasum. 
In several places on the intestines there were little spots 
of a dark red colour to be seen, which I believe were the 
marks left by the worms in boring their way through these 
viscera. 
I could not detect any other manner in which they had 
entered the abdomen. 
I will now explain the way in which, it seems to me, that a 
long period of hot dry weather operates in producing parasites 
in animals. It is known that plants of the same species some¬ 
times vary to a certain extent in their chemical composition, ac¬ 
cording to the food with which they are supplied. Now, when 
there is no rain for a long period there is little carbonic acid 
conveyed to the roots of plants, consequently they are deficient 
in hydro-carbonaceous matter, while the nitrogenous parts 
are in excess. This being the case, there is a deficiency of 
the former and an excess of the latter, in the bodies of the 
animals living upon herbage in this state. The want of 
sufficient combustible matter causes a low degree of vital 
heat and vital power, and the nitrogenised substances conse¬ 
quently begin to decompose. The blood being loaded with 
this decomposed matter, parasites are brought into existence 
in order to eat it up, just as animalculae exist in water in 
order to consume decomposed vegetable substances there 
existing. 
As it is nothing but vitality which prevents the chemical 
laws from having full sway, it seems possible that when the 
vital powers are weak the chemical forces may come partially 
into operation. 
[The entozoa found by Mr. Meyrick, in the above case, 
were most likely strongyles, which parasites not unfrequently 
