test tube as the eggs are lighter and will be on top of such sediment. 
The technic given in this discussion causes a high degree of con¬ 
centration of parasite eggs and is applicable to feces from a wide 
range of host animals, from canary birds to elephants. 
Standard Methods Apply Only to Human Feces 
There are many published methods for examining feces for par¬ 
asite eggs, but most of them are intended only for human feces, which 
is a very special case and some of them only for hookworm eggs, 
which again is a very special case. They are more or less elaborate, 
though sometimes very useful within the range of their applicability. 
For the purposes of the veterinarian the simpler technic given here 
and intended for feces of any sort and the detection of parasite eggs 
of any sort is recommended. 
In examining feces under the microscope for parasite eggs, one 
must use care not to mistake plant spores, plant hairs, etc., for eggs 
and worms. To this end it is necessary to consult the available text 
and reference books in regard to the eggs of the various parasites 
of the host animal up for examination. Unfortunately, the existing 
books do not lay much emphasis on egg sizes and shapes in all in¬ 
stances and it is sometimes difficult to get the desired information. 
The courses in parasitology in our veterinary colleges should con¬ 
tain enough work in fecal examination to make students reasonably 
familiar with the technic and the interpretation of the slides prepared, 
so that eggs found will at least be recognizable in a general way to 
students and to practitioners thus properly trained. 
Failure to find eggs in feces with any technic whatsoever is not 
conclusive proof that no worms are present. In very light infesta¬ 
tions the few eggs present in feces may not occur in the preparations 
examined; where only male nematodes are present there will be no 
eggs in the feces; where only larvae or young worms are present 
there will be no eggs; and egg production may be interrupted or termi¬ 
nated by old age, anthelmintics or accident. 
16 
