The Tapeworms of the Rangoon Pigeon

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Abstract
The pigeons of India are notoriously heavily infected with tapeworms and a cursory examination showed those of Rangoon to be no exception. A systematic investigation, the results of which are given in the accompanying table, was made of 20 pigeons taken from various parts of the town. Those from some localities were comparatively free from infection, others heavily parasitised. On the whole, those kept in cages and fed on corn had the greatest percentage of worms. The effect upon the health was very pronounced. Extreme emaciation and weakness were the usual accompaniment to a heavy infection. The worms were mostly situated in the duodenum,Hymenolepisnearer the stomach,CotugniaandRaillietinafurther away, but this arrangement was liable to be altered. In one case, a bird on the point of death, the worms had moved nearly to the anus, some remaining free, others attached, indicating the probability under normal conditions of the cestode moving from place to place.