HYDATIDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16479, 19 February 1914, Page 5

HYDATIDS.

DISEASE IN CHRISTCHURCH,

CONVEYED BY DOGS. There is a rapid increase of hydatids in Christchurch, if medical men are to be believed. The complaint, which is transmitted to man principally by dogs, is said to have a hold on the rabbits of the Port Hills which in turn convey the disease to dogs. Dr Thacker, who was interviewed by a reporter yesterday, admitted that the disease was alarmingly prevalent. In reply to a request fcr a definition of hydatids, he launched into technical, yet interesting details. One gathered that the cause of the trouble went by the name of Trenia echinoccccus, a cestode worm, which normally inhabited the intestines of a dog and the eggs of which when ingested by man, who served as an intermediate host, developed into the so called ( bladder stage, producing hydatid cysfs. The disease, ho eaid was found in all places where dogs lived. It was especially frequent in Iceland, Silesia and Australasia, and was by no means rare in Great Britain. The parasite had been discovered, in wolves, jackals, cats and rabbits. ■ The worm itsolf was ' a quarter inch in length made up of four segments, the head being furnished with four suckers to hang on by while the fourth segment had double sexual organs., and a large number of eggs, from 500 to 4000. Thousands of these worms might exist in the intestines of a dog. Sheep and swine were more often the intermediate hosts of the parasite than man was, and these animals probably in a great measure kept up the supply. Sheep dogs and sporting dogs were specially liable, and shepherds and others whose work lay among dogs were the. most frequent victims of the disease.

■ The hydatid cysts, Dr Thacker added, might be simple or multiple. They were most common, in man between the ages of twenty and forty, and were oommoner in women than "in men, and comparatively rare in children. The ripe proglottides, or eggs, were distributed over pastures and edible vegetables, and reached .supplies of drinking water, from which they were ingested by iu,an. The capsule of tho egg was dissolved in the alimentary canal, and the small embryo, provided with six hooks, migrated "into the tissues and afterwards became cystic. Tn five months the cyst reached the sine of a pigeon's egg, and the parent cy.st could produce daughter cysts. [ 'r.Speaking'of. hydatids-locally, apropos of the discussion at the Medical Congress,. Dr Thacker said that the rabbits on, the Port Hills had them. The rabbits were eaten by dogs', whose excretions wore or, tho hills, from which it was possible the hydatids might get into the reservoir. Tho vegetables in tho city, particularly lettuces, and also strawberries, were liable to convey the for cats and dogs hud free access to propagate it. i Dr Thacker- mentioned that be him- j self had a cat and dog and bird proof | netting over Iris garden, to guard against this danger. "Hydatids are! becoming exceedingly common in the j centre of thf> city." he continued. " due to people eatiug their own grown vegetables." Tho most common site of the disease in human beings was on the top surface of the liver, and ; . m if the disease was inot attended-to -tho cypt would'burst and be chest, giving a diagnosis of phthisis and often heivg a precursor of it. Particularly in influenza the cyst could become; infected with ether microbes, and suppuration would set up with" high fever and other constitutional j disturbances, likely to rjfove fata!. THE REMEDY. . Dr Thacker said, that it was i hot the extermination of • rab- \ bits that was needed. What w.is : wanted was the destruction of the j infinite number of dogs in Christchurch i that were of no use at all, and were j simply carriers of the disease. Lap dogs and pug dogs would carry the ] disease as well as others. ~.