The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-12-07


ant adjunct to the farm IL he is prop
erly controlled and cared for, but
when neglected, may readily become
a carrier Of disease to stock, in addi-
tion to gaining opportunity to kill
sheep and destroy gardens and other
property. Dog ordinances, as gen.
eral rule, have been intended chiefly
to curb the dogs power of doing
harm by attacking, biting, killing or
running sheep or stock. The part
that he plays as carrier of diseases
to animals only recently has been
recognized, according to the zoolo-
gists of the department Of agricul-
ture, who believe that when this is
better understood, rural ordinances
and laws which lessen this danger
will gain the support of the commun.
ity.
OF the diseases carried to stock
by dogs, the foot and mouth disease
is probably Of the greatest interest
at this time. In this case the dog
acts as mechanical carrier of infec-
tion. The dog which runs across an
infected farm easily may carry in
the dirt on his feet the virus Of this
most contagious of animal diseases to
other farms and thus spread the dis
ease to the neighboring herds. In in
fected localities 1t is absolutely essen.
tial, therefore, to keep all dogs chain.
ed and never allow them off the farm
except on leash.
There are, however, many other
maladies in the spread of which the
dog takes an active part. In Bulletin
260 Of the U. s. department Of agri-
culture, "The Dog as Carrier Of Par.
asites and Disease" it is pointed out
that rabies, hydatid, ringworm, favus,
double-pored tapeworm, roundworm,
and tongueworm are often conveyed
to human beings in this way. It oc-
casionally happens also that the dog
helps fieas and ticks in transmitting
bubonic plague or the deadly spotted
fever.
Hydatid disease Is caused by the
presence in the liver, kidneys, brain,
lungs and other organs, of bladder
worm or larval tapeworm. Bladder
worms are often as large as an or
ange and may be larger. A dog which
is allowed to feed on carrion or the
raw viscera of slaughtered animals
may eat all or part of bladder worm
containing numerous tapeworm heads.
These tapeworm heads develop into
small segmented tapeworms in the in
testnes of the dog. The tapeworms
in turn develop eggs which are
passed out in the excrement Of the
dog. They are spread broadcast on
grass and in drinking water where
animals can very well eat them and
thus become infected. The hog Is
particularly liable to this disease be-
cause of its roofing habits. The eggs
may get into human food and persons
who allow dogs to lick their hands
and face also run the risk of getting
the eggs of the tapeworm in their sys-
TENS.
Prevention on the farm consists in
so restraining the dog that he can not
get at carrion or raw viscera. Wis.,
cera should be boiled before being
fed to dogs and should never be
thrown ON the fields. IL not cooked
and fed, vlscera and carcasses should
be burned, buried with lime, or so
disposed of as not to be accessible to
dogs. Proper feeding of the dog is
essential. and the owner who does
not feed dog properly has no right
to keep one.
The parasite which causes gid in
sheep somewhat resembles the hydat-
Id worm. A dog allowed to eat the
brain of giddy sheep may swallow
this parasite and later distribute the
eggs of the resulting tapeworm over
the pasture. Sheep while grazing
swallow the eggs with the grass
which they eat. In the case of sheep
dogs 1t is important to administer
vermifuges often enough to keep
them free of these worms. In the
case of sheep measles. the bladder
worm in the meat, typical of this dis
ease, is swallowed by the dog and
again the tapeworm eggs are passed
by the dog to the grass or water, and
there are eaten by sheep.
or the external parasites which
dogs may carry to animals, fleas and
the various kinds Of ticks are both
troublesome and dangerous. The
remedy is clear. The owner must
keep his dog clean, not merely for
the comfort and happiness of the dog
but to prevent It from becoming a
carrier Of disagreeable and danger
Gus vermin.
4 A.