NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
March 1955] G. S. RATHORE, P. D. MATHUR AND N. S. SANKARNARAYAN 11
Table III is a consolidated statement of results shown according to the locali-
ties. It is clear that Sirohi animals, in spite of a heavy helminth load, gave far
better results than those of Pali and Jayarampura. Even Udaipur animals, with
the heaviest infestation responded better to treatment than those of the same breed
in Pali and Jayarampura. Phenothiazine, or for that matter any anthelmintic,
cannot be expected to supply nutrition. Hence maintenance of condition and
increase in weight and wool must also depend on the grazing available.
Grazing conditions were not uniform in all the five places. Sirohi and Malpura
have good pastures and phenothiazine exerted the most favourable influence on
these animals; whereas in Pali, a canal area of cultivated land, the grazing avail-
able is insufficient. Similarly in Jayarampura uncultivated land is sandy, carrying
no pasture. Udaipur, in spite of its numerous lakes, is barren and rocky and offers
very little grazing to sheep. The water-logged areas, on the other hand, offer good
breeding ground for parasites. This perhaps is the reason that animals at Udaipur
are the poorest in Rajasthan and harbour the heaviest load of helminths. The
relatively poor results seen must be ascribed to these factors.
Apart from nutrition, certain breed characteristics may also play their part
and helminth infestation may exert an inhibitary influence on them. When the
animal is freed from parasites, such characteristics may be shown more prominently.
The Marwari sheep is a hardy animal and, with good grazing available at Sirohi
and when freed of their parasites, the animals gave the best results.
Phenothiazine thus satisfies all the required conditions for a good anthelmintic.
Consideration has to be given to the cost of treatment and also keeping in mind the
poverty prevailing in Rajasthan : 'Cheapness' is not necessarily a lower cost of pur-
chase unless the use of the drug is accompanied by expected results. Table IV
shows the actual cost of ' Phenovis ' in relation to the return it gave in terms of
increased live-weight and wool.
TABLE IV
Economics of 'Phenovis ' treatment
T=Treated
C=Control
Locality
Malpura
Total
Udaipur
Total
Number of
sheep
16
13
9
38
11
10
11
10
42
Dose
in
gm.
5
5
5
..
5
10
10
10
..
Number of
doses
5
4
5
..
6
4
5
6
..
Total
quantity
in gm.
400
260
225
885
330
400
550
600
1880
Cost of
Treatment
at Rs.0-2-6
per 10 gm.
Rs. A. P.
13 11 0
29 6 0
Total live-
weight gain
T : C
(in pounds)
32.0
149.5
171.0
352.5
37.4
88.0
105.6
112.0
343.0
Total wool
yield T : C
(in ounces)
72
39
..
111
29.7
7.0
16.5
18.0
71.2
Continued on next page
12
HAEMONCHOSIS IN SHEEP
[Vol. XXV, Part I,
TABLE IV—(contd.)
Economics of ' Phenovis' treatment
T—Treated
C—Control
Locality
Pali
Total
Jayarampura
Total
Sirohi
Total
Number of
sheep
6
11
8
13
38
7
9
11
27
13
15
28
Dose in
gm.
5
10/5
10
10
..
5
10/5
10
..
5
10/5
..
doses
3
3
3
4
..
3
3
3
..
3
3
..
Total
quantity
in gm.
90
220
240
520
1070
105
180
330
615
195
300
495
Cost of
Treatment
at Rs. 0-2-6
per 10 gm.
Rs. A. P.
16 11 0
9 10 0
7 12 0
Total live-
weight gain
T : C
(in pounds)
51.6
24.2
37.6
107.9
221.3
4.9
5.4
82.5
92.8
156.0
226.5
382.5
Total wool
yield T : C.
(in ounces)
..
..
7.2
31.2
38.4
7.0
10.8
13.2
31.0
48.1
90.0
138.1
Results shown in Table IV again confirm the best performance at a low cost
of Sirohi animals, and the poorest results in Jayarampura. In Sirohi the results
are spectacular; the extra wool production alone in such a small flock meets the
cost of treatment. When assessing the live-weight gains, we must remember that
the weight of the skeleton, viscera and skin of treated and control sheep of the same
breed and age must be considered as equal. It follows that the gains recorded can
be expressed as mutton. If we value this at eight annas per pound, the return in
mutton alone over the cost of treatment is approximately : Jayarampura five times
Pali, and Udaipur six times, Malpura 13 times and Sirohi 24 times. To this should
be added the increased earnings in wool.
From investigations carried out on sheep mortality in various places, it is known
that the important helminthic parasites concerned are H. contortus and O. colum-
bianum. Both are known to be capable of causing widespread mortality. The
mortality in the experimental flocks at Udaipur, Sirohi and Pali occurred in the
control groups and not a single animal died in the treated groups after getting the
first dose of phenothiazine.
March 1955] G. S. RATHORE, P. D. MATHUR AND N. S. SANKARNARAYAN 15
have died, since the lack of communications and the ignorance of villagers lead to
outbreaks not being reported. It is thus proved, beyond doubt, that helminthiasis
is responsible for a very heavy annual mortality.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We are indebted to Shri Samarth Raj, Director of Agriculture, Rajasthan, for
his keen interest in the control work carried out. The staff of the Veterinary,
Sheep and Wool Departments actively co-operated in carrying out the investigation
and control work. Specially valuable help was given by Shri N. L. Narayan, Sheep
and Wool Development Officer. Shri Daulat Singh, District Veterinary Officer,
Udaipur, and Dr K. R. Lodha, Veterinary Officer, Sirohi, also extended their help.
We acknowledge with thanks the free gift of ' Phenovis ', and the co-operation
by Messrs. Imperial Chemical Industries (India) Ltd.
REFERENCES
Annual Report of Disease (Veterinary) (1949-50).
Investigation Officer, Rajasthan and Ajmer
Annual Report of Disease (Veterinary) (1952-53). Investigation Officer, Rajasthan and Ajmer
Annual Report of Disease (Veterinary) (1953-54). Investigation Officer, Rajasthan and Ajmer
Annual Report of Council of Sci. and Industry. Res. Aust. (1946) 20th A. Rep. 18-20, 24-35
Bhalerao, G. D. (1935). I. C. A. R. Sci. Monograph 6, 8
Edwards, T. T. (1948). Jt. Pub. Imp. Agri. Bur. 12, 36
Franklin, M. C., Gordon H. Mcl. Catherine, H. and Macgregor, H. (1946). Coun. Sci. and Ind-
ustr. Res. 19, 1
Gordon, H. Mcl. (1948). Aust. vet. J. 24, 17
—.
Aust. vet. J. 21, 90
—.
Proc. XIV int. vet. Congr. London
Krishna Rao, M. V. (1953). The Economic Importance of Deworming Sheep. Indian vet. J.
XXIX, 310
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, U. K. (1949). Animal Health Leaflet, 21
N. V. M. A. (1949). Report on the Diseases of Farm Livestock No. 6
Rogers, W. P. (1948). Aus. vet. J. 24, 220-225
Sighetti, L. and March, H. (1949). Amer. J. vet. Res. 8, 186
Special Statistical Officer, (1950). Sheep and Wool Industry in Rajsathan, Government of Rajasthan
The National Veterinary Medical Association of Great Britain and Ireland (1949). Report on
Diseases of Farm Livestock, Sect. II Diseases of Sheep.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE NUCLEIC ACIDS OF EIMERIA
TENELLA RAILLIET AND LUCET, 1891
By H. N. RAY* and B. S. GILL, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar,
Kumaon, U. P.
(Received for publication on 20 October 1954)
(With Plate II)
D URING the last decade or two, intracellular protein synthesis has aroused
keen interest among cytologists. Efforts to reveal this phenomenon auto-
matically brought nucleotides into the picture, which have been extensively in-
vestigated. According to Cohen [1946] non-parasitic cells contain three types of
nucleotides : (a) ribose nucleic acid (RNA); (b) desoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA);
and (c) Ribose -5- phosphate nucleotides existing as various coenzymes such as
adenosine-triple-phosphatase and others necessary for a number of reactions in-
volved in the metabolism of phospholipids, carbohydrates, proteins; and vital
processes like the oxidation-reduction, etc. In fact, according to him, the pro-
duction and utilisation of energy and substance in all non-parasitic cells, in a large
part, depend on the activities of the last named nucleotides. He concludes : " At
the present state of knowledge concerning metabolism, one might say that an orga-
nism which has lost the use of its ribose-5-phosphate neucleotides would be unable
to survive except as an obligate parasite ". Thus a study of the nucleotides in
parasites offer an interesting field for investigation, in order to understand the
intricate relationship between the host and parasite. The present investigation,
therefore, was undertaken with a view to gather as many facts as possible regard-
ing the distribution of nucleic acids at various stages of the life cycle of Eimeria
tenella. Cytochemical methods alone were employed throughout the course of this
investigation. Only a few references on the subject are available, e.g. some observa-
tions on the malaria parasites [Breindel and Jirovec, 1932; Jirovec and Cerney, 1932,
Ungo-Mugdon, 1938; Cohen, 1944; Dean, 1945, Lillie, 1947 ; Lewert, 1952 ;
Sen Gupta, et al., 1953]; Babesia bigemina and Babesia foliata [Ray, 1938 ; Ray
and Raghavachari, 1941 ] a few ciliates [Seshachar, 1950; Seshachar and Das,
1953] and Leucocytozoa [Wingstrand, 1948 ; Borg, 1953 ].
PROCEDURE
The same material as used in the studies of various polysaccharides of E. tenella
[Gill & Ray, 1954 a, b] swas also employed in this investigation. Briefly the
procedure adopted was a follows: pieces of caeca were fixed in Serr al's (45
minutes), Carnoy's (2 hours), Zenker's acetic (overnight) fluids and in 4 per cent
neutral formalin (overnight, after pre-treatment with 30 per cent sucrose solution
* At present Professor of Protozoology, School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta.
112 AR/54
17
3
Indian J. vet. Sci., vol. XXV, Part 1]
[PLATE II
Photomicrographs depicting reactions for nucleic acids in Eimeria tenella. In the process of photography
coloured filters have been used wherever necessary. Hours within parenthesis denote the stage of infection.
Fig. 1. First generation schizont (Feulgen, 52 hours × 1820). Note reaction in nuclei. Hypertrophied
nucleus of the host cell is seen lying facing the lumen of gland.
Fig. 2. Second generation schizont (Feulgen, 80 hours × 1820). Note reaction in nuclei of the parasite and
in the hypertrophied nucleus of the host cell.
Fig. 3. First generation merozoite (toluidine blue, 72 hours × 3200). Note intense basiphilia in nucleus and
at the ends especially the pointed end.
Fig. 4. Second generation schizonts (toludine blue, 72 hours × 1820). Note intense basiphilia both in
karyosomes and cytoplasm.
Fig. 5. Second generation schizonts (methyl-green pyronin, 80 hours × 140). Note the appearance of
Pyronin-positive material in schizonts reaching maturity. There was no green staining material in the parasites.
Fig. 6. Second generation merozoites (methyl-green pyronin, 120 hours × 1500). Note marked reaction
(due to pyronin staining) at the posterior (acute) and.
Fig. 7. Second generation schizonts. Vacuoles in the cytoplasm represent karyosomes of the parasite.
Reaction (due to pyronin staining) has shifted from nuclei to the cytoplasm. This precedes segmentation.
Fig. 8. Microgametes (methyl-green pyronin, 142 hours × 1820). Dark staining of the comma-shaped bodies
of gametes is due to methyl-green staining.
Fig. 9. Microgametes (Feulgen, 142 hours × 3350). Note reaction in the bodies of microgametes.
Fig. 10. Oocysts (Feulgen, 148 hours × 1600). Note positive reaction for DNA in the organisms marked
with arrow and absence of any reaction in others.
Fig. 11. Oocyst and macrogamete (toluinine blue, 152 hours × 1600). Note intense basiphilia in oocyst at
the micropyle (a) and in the peripheral globules of a macrogamete (b).
Fig. 12. Just-entered sporozoite (methyl-green pyronin, 39 hours × 3203). Note intense pyronin staining
umps on either side of the nucleus. Green-staining was absent.
22
NUCLEIC ACIDS OF EIMERIA TENELLA
[Vol. XXV, Part I,
10 per cent) of oocysts showed DNA both in the nucleus and cytoplasm. An indirect
evidence has been presented to suggest de novo formation of DNA in this coccidium
during the process of sporulation.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Our thanks are due to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for the
award of the Research Fellowship in Parasitology to one of us (B. S. G.) which made
this investigation possible ; to Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute,
Izatnagar, for providing laboratory facilities ; and to Dr J. Brachet (Brussels)
and Dr P. C. Sen Gupta (School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta), for gifts of the
enzyme ribonuclease employed in these studies.
REFERENCES
Astbury, W. T. and Bell, F. O. (1938). Nature, 141 : 747
Ball, E. G., and McKee, R. W., Anfinsen, C. B., Cruz, W. O., and Geiman, O. M. (1948). J. Biol.
Chem., 175 : 547
Borg, K. (1953). Comm. from Stockholm from Vet. Med. Inst., Stockholm.
*Borsook, H., Deasy, C. L., Haagen-Smith, A. J., Keighley, G ; and Lowy, P. H. (1951). Fed. Proc.,
9 : 154 (original not seen)
Brachet, J. (1950). Experientia, 6 : 294
—
(1953). J. micr. Soc. 94 : 1
Breindl, V. and Jirovec, O., (1932). Zentralbl. F. Bakt. Orig. 126 : 184
Chen, T. (1944). Amer. J. Hyg. 40 : 26
Cohen, S. S. (1946). Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 11 (Discussion): 191
Cowdry, E. V. (1928). Science, 68 : 40
Danielli, J. F. (1953). Cytochemistry—A critical approach. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. N. Y.
Deane, H. W. (1945). J. Cellular Comp. Physiol. 26 : 139
Devereux, S. Johanson, M. and Errera, M. (1951). Bull. Soc. Chim. Biol. 33 : 800
Gill, B.S. and Ray, H. N. (1954a). Indian J. Vet. Sc. Hubd., 24 : 223.
—(1954b).
Ibid., 24 : 229.
Hultin, T. (1950). Exp. Cell. Res. 1 : 376
Jirovec, O. and Cerney, W., (1932). Zentralbl. F. Bakt. Oreg. 126 : 181
Keller, E. B. (1949). Fed. Proc. 10 : 206, (original not seen)
Kunitz, M. (1950). J. Gen. Physiol. 33 : 349
Kurnick, N. B. (1949-50). J. Nat. Cancer. Inst. 10 : 1345
—
(1949). Internat. Congr. Biochem. Cambridge, England, 264
—
(1950a). J. Gen. Physiol. 33 : 243
—
(1950b). Exp. Cell. Res. 1 : 151
—
(1952). Stain Tech. 27 : 233
—
and Foster, M., (1950). J. Gen. Physiol. 34 : 147
Lewert, R. M. (1952). J. Infect. Dis. 91 : 125
Lillie, R. D. (1947). J. Lab. Clin. Med., 32 : 76
London, I. M. Shermen, D. and Rittenberg, D. (1950). J. Biol. Chem. 183 : 749
Lwoff, A. (1952). Endeavour. 11 : 72 and 132
Moraczewiski, S. A. and Kelsey, F. E. (1948). J. Infect. Dis., 82 : 45
Moses, M. J. (1950). J. Morphol. 87 : 493
Muller, H. J. (1947). Proc. roy. Soc. Lond. B. 134 : 1
Oster, K. A. and Mulinos, M. G. (1944). J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap. 80 : 306
March 1955]
H.
N.
RAY
AND
B.
S.
GILL
23
Painter, T. S. (1945). Trans. Conn. Acad. Arts Sci. 36 : 443 (original not seen)
Preer, J. P. (1950). Genetics, 35 : 344
Ray, H. M. (1938). Indian J. vet. Sci. 8 : 183
—
(1952). Ann. Rep. Indian Vet. Res. Inst., Mukteswar, Kumaon
—
and Raghavachari (1941). Ibid., 11, 239
Seshachar, B. R. (1950). J. Exp. Zool. 114: 517
—and
Dass, C. M. S. (1952). Proc. 40th Sci. Congr., 186
Siekevitz, P. and Zamechik, P. C. (1951). Fed. Proc. 10, 246
Sonneborn, T. M. (1939). Amer. Nat. 73 : 390
Spiegelman, S. and Kamen, M. B. (1946). Science, 104 : 581
Ungo-Mugdon, A. (1938). Riv. di. Parasit. 2 : 323
Wingstrand, K. G. (1948). K. Su. Vetenbkksakad. Handlinger Tredje Ser. Bd. 29 & No. 8
SEARCH FOR ANTHELMINTICS AMONG INDIGENOUS
REMEDIES
I. ACTION OF ACETYL SAPONIN FROM ANAGALLIS ARVENSIS LINN.
ON ANNELIDS AND HELMINTHS
By AJIT SINGH*, J. D. KOHLI and D. B. PARIHAR**, Central Drug Research
Institute, Lucknow
(Received for publication on 17 June 1954)
(With Plates III-IV)
ANAGALLIS arvensis Linn. (Primulaceae, Hindi—jonkhmari) is an annual herb
which grows in most parts of India. In the indigenous system of medicine
[Kirtikar and Basu, 1935], it is used in the treatment of gout and dropsy, and as
a fish poison and snake bite antidote. It is also used for expelling leeches from
the nostrils of animals. A saponin is reported to have been isolated from this
plant in 1846 [Chopra, 1933].
Saponins are usually considered poisonous, a number of them being haemolytic
agents. There are, however, saponins which are used either as drugs, e.g. Sarsa-
parilla and Senega, or as articles of food, e.g. Spinach and Balanites aegyptiaca.
Acetyl saponin from A. arvensis showed absence of any untoward effect on oral
administration in mammals in a few preliminary experiments. It was thus felt
that this saponin might possess selective toxicity towards lower forms of life only.
In view of this, it was considered of interest to investigate into the vermicidal
properties of this acetyl saponin.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Acetyl saponin
The whole air-dried plant was extracted with petrol ether. The defatted drug
was then mixed with copper carbonate and repeatedly extracted with hot alcohol.
The combined extract was concentrated in vacuum and the concentrate triturated
with ether and benzene to remove chlorophyl and the residual fatty material. The
residue was dissolved in minimum quantity of alcohol and the alcoholic solution
poured into a large volume of acetone. The precipitate was again dissolved in
alcohol and poured in acetone and the process was repeated a number of times.
The final precipitate was obtained as a brownish powder which became sticky on
exposure to air. Attempts to crystallise it did not succeed. On hydrolysis it gave
an aglycone as a white powder and the sugar moieties were identified chromato-
graphically as glucose, arabinose and xylose. As the saponin fraction
failed to crystallise, it was acetylated with acetic anhydride and sodium
acetate and the reaction mixture worked up in the usual manner. The acetyl saponin
* Fellow of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research on deputation.
**At present in Defence Science Organisation, New Delhi.
25
112 AR/54
4
26
SEARCH FOR ANTHELMINTICS
[Vol. XXV, Part I,
thus obtained was in the form of brownish micro-crystalline powder insoluble in
water.
Solution of acetyl saponin was obtained as follows : The required quantity
was dissolved in the minimum quantity of 10 per cent NaOH and the solution
neutralised with 10 per cent HCl adjusting the pH. between 7-8. The solution
was finally made up with tap water to desired concentration.
The vermicidal action of the acetyl saponin from A. arvensis was studied on
earthworm, leeches, cestodes and nematodes. Wide and shallow dishes were em-
ployed in order to avoid the death of worms by drowning. Experiments were de-
signed to observe (i) the minimum time required to cause the death of all the worms
and (ii) the behaviour of the worms in the solution. Control experiments with the
diluent adjusted to equal pH were put side by side.
A modified Trendelenburg apparatus was used to record the spontaneous
movements of the worms under different experimental conditions. One end of the
worm was attached to a light frontal writing lever by means of a thread and fine
steel hook fixed to the prostomium. The posterior end was secured to the bottom
of a cylindrical glass container by means of another steel hook fixed in a bent glass
tubing, held inside the glass container from the top. The container tube was filled
either with tap water at room temperature or with NaCl below 0.3 per cent strength
in case of earthworms ; but for tape worms, Ringer's solution at 37°C. maintained
by a constant temperature bath was used. Experiments on tape-worms were
performed on mature proglottids of Moniezia species from sheep and goat. Only
vigorously moving segments from freshly received parasites were found satis-
factory. About an inch long piece was taken and tied by thread at both the ends.
Comparative studies on exposure under identical conditions to well-known
anthelmintics such as Kamala (Rottlera), carbon tetrachloride and extract filic
(B. P.) were also done to have an estimate of the potency of the acetyl saponin
in terms of known anthelmintic remedies.
RESULTS
The results of vermicidal activity are given in Table I.
TABLE I
Vermicidal activity of acetyl saponin at a dilution of 1 : 1000
Test worms
Earthworms
Leeches
Roundworms
Tapeworms
Species
Pheretima pos-
thuma
Hirudinaria gra-
nulosa
Toxocara mystax
Moniezia expansa
Moniezia benecleni
No. of
experi-
ments
4
3
5
6
Immediate reaction
Irritation and increase
in movements
Do.
Slight increase in
movements
Marked
contraction
and depression
Delayed reaction
Depression and death in
3-4 hours
Contraction, motionless
death in 6-8 hours
Motionless but alive after
18-24 hours
Relaxation and death
in 30-40 minutes
Indian J. vet. Sci., Vol. XXV, Part I ]
[ PLATE III
Plate III.
Action of drugs on tapeworms
Ringer's solution was replaced by the drug at—
A. Normal movements in Ringer's solution
B. Ext. Arecanut 1 per cent. B 1 immediately after adding the drug. B 2 10 minutes after,
B 3 15 minutes after
C. Ext. Filic. 1 per cent
D. Acetyl saponin from Anagallis arvensis 1 : 1,000 solution
[PLATE IV
[Indian J. vet. Sci., Vol. XXV, Part I
Plate IV. Action of drugs on earthworm
Drug solution added at—
A. Acetyl saponin from Anagallis aryensis 1 : 1,000 solution
A 1. Normal movements in tap water. A 2 . Immediately after adding the
drug. A 3 . 30 minutes after. A 4 . 71 minutes after
B. Ext. Arecanut 1 per cent. B 1 . Normal movements in tap water. B 2 . 15
minutes after. B 3 . 2 hours after
C. Ext. Filic. 1 per cent. C 1 . Normal movements in tap water. C 2 . Imme-
diately after addition of the drug. C 3 . 33 minutes after
March 1955 ] A. SINGH, J. D. KOHLI AND D. B. PARIHAR 27
It was observed that in concentrations of 1:1000 and 1 : 5000, the drug exerted
its irritant effect on earthworms and leeches soon after these were placed in the
solution. The movements were stimulated and became more marked ; the worms
tried to get out of the solution. Thereafter they became progressively sluggish
until death supervened. Leeches, which normally have the tendency to hold on
to the surface by the help of their anterior and posterior suckers, lost this power
in the drug solution and lay contracted.
Nematode worms were found to be very much depressed after 12 hours of
dipping. After 18-24 hours they were completely motionless but death did not
occur. This could be observed by changing over the parasites to hot water above
40°C. which induced convulsive movements of the worms.
The reaction of scolices and mature and immature segments from freshly received
cestode parasites were observed. Immediately after putting the worm in the
solution the movements were very much depressed followed by complete shrinkage
and tonicity. With this reaction of thickening and shortening, the proglottids
cease to move after which the parasite relaxes and increases in length.
In another series of four experiments, 18 earthworms were put in each
of the three dilutions of the drug. After every 2, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 45 minutes and
1, 2 and 3 hours, two worms were removed each time and washed with running
water, then putting them in fresh tap water in separate dishes. They were kept
under observation later for a period of 24 hours. This method could not be applied
to tapeworms.
The results are given in Table II.
TABLE II
Minimum time (in minutes) of contact with test solutions to cause fatal injury to earth-
worms
Dilutions
1 : 1000
1 : 5000
1 : 10000
Acetyl
saponin
10—15
30—35
55—60
Kamala
60—75
135—140
155—170
Carbon tetra-
chloride
15—20
40—45
55—60
Extract
filic.
(B.P.)
20—25
30—35
60—70
These figures show that the acetyl saponin has greater vermicidal activity on
earthworms than Kamala and that its activity is comparable to other well-known
anthelmintics, extract filic. and carbon tetrachloride.
Kymographic studies
Plate III shows the effect of various solutions on tapeworms. It
was seen that the mere act of changing the fluid in the bath caused a
contraction of the worm as seen in control experiments (Graph A) but the worm
regained its original length immediately and normal frequency and height of con-
traction was retained. In case of acetyl saponin and extract filic. the immediate