TAENIA EXPANSA IN THE SHEEP. 
753 
cous membrane was in an irritable condition. The owner also 
stated the lambs would be unwell for two or three days, then be¬ 
coming affected with convulsions would turn about in a circle 
and drop dead. 
The appearance of the worm is a dull white, the length var¬ 
iable, the largest measuring from five to six yards in length and 
from one-twenty-fifth of an inch in breadth at the head, to one- 
half an inch at the tail—that is, in old sheep. The head is gen¬ 
erally small, the neck is very short, the first segments are very 
short, the others as they proceed backwards to the tail become 
longer and broader. The head is small at the end, and is fur¬ 
nished with four suckers ; the body of the worm is made up of 
segments very wide and flat, which vary in length in the differ¬ 
ent portions of the body. Each segment is furnished with an 
independent set of genital organs, and contains eggs or young 
embryos, so it will be observed that each segment is capable of 
reproducing its kind without the assistance of any outside 
agencies. The segments become matured as the embryos de¬ 
velop within them and are separated from the others to be 
ejected with their excreta on the ground, there to fulfill their 
life circle. The segments nearest the tail are the first to be shed* 
the remainder following in their turn. 
Symptoms— A paleness of the skin will be noticeable ; the 
visible mucous membrane, such as the lining of the eyelids, will 
also have a bloodless appearance ; the fleece is dry and brittle ; the 
animal becomes poor in flesh ; the lambs look unthrifty and do 
not develop ; the appetite at first remains good, being increased 
if anything; the desire for liquids is also increased, the animal 
at times drinking greedily. The digestive functions soon be¬ 
come deranged, rumination is imperfectly performed, the breath 
becomes foetid, signs of colic will be observed at irregular inter¬ 
vals, the evacuations are varied in character; at times the animal 
is constipated, again it suffers from excessive diarrhoea, the belly 
becomes distended owing to the accumulation of faecal matter or 
gas, the evacuations have a mucous character and are yellowish 
in color, an examination frequently revealing segments of the 
