INTESTINAL WORMS OF SOLIPEDS.--The large round-worms or ascarides and the
sclerostomes are the most injurious intestinal parasites of solipeds. The
_A. megalocephala_ or large round-worm is from 5 to 15 inches (12 to 35
cm.) long. It may be present in the double colon in such large numbers as
to form an entangled mass that completely fills a portion of the loop in
which it is lodged. It may interfere with digestion by obstructing the
passage of alimentary matter, and irritating the intestine.

The _S. equinum_ and _S. tetracanthum_ are small worms. The former
sclerostoma is from 0.6 to 1.5 inches (18 to 35 mm.) long, and the latter
is from 0.5 to 0.6 inch (8 to 17 mm.) long. Both sclerostomes attach
themselves to the lining membrane of the intestine by their mouth parts,
and suck blood. The young _S. equinum_ may live in tumor-like cysts that
they cause to form in the lining membrane of the intestine. The young worm
may penetrate the wall of a small blood-vessel as well, and drift into a
large vessel, where it may become lodged and undergo partial development.
The irritation to the blood-vessel results in an inflammation and dilation
of the vessel wall. This is termed verminous aneurism. A portion of the
fibrin-like lining of the aneurism may flake off and drift along in the
blood stream, until finally a vessel that is too small for the floating
particle or embolus to pass through is reached. The vessel is then plugged
or a thrombus is formed. If the vessel involved by the thrombus happens to
be a mesenteric vessel, then a loop of intestine has its blood supply cut
off, and colicky pains result. Such colics are dangerous, and may terminate
fatally. Intestinal obstruction, thrombo-embolic colics, unthriftiness and
a weakened, anaemic condition may be caused by intestinal worms.

_The treatment_ is both preventive and medicinal. The preventive treatment
consists in giving young, growing animals the best care possible.
Cleanliness about the stable, giving the colt plenty of range when running