A New Anthelmintic for Canine Hookworm

AN earlier communication 1 reported the discovery of a new series of quaternary ammonium compounds possessing anthelmintic activity against a wide range of nematodes parasitic in the gastro-intestinal tract of mammals. The hydroxynaphthoate salt of one of these compounds (I ; bephenium) has proved to be of considerable practical value in the treatment of hookworm and roundworm in man 2 , and in the prevention and treatment of nematodiriasis and parasitic gastro-enteritis caused by other trichostrongylid nematodes of sheep 3,4 and cattle 5,6 . In addition, it has proved to be highly effective against hookworm in dogs 7 , with less effect against canine ascarids, but its introduction into veterinary usage has been severely hampered by its emetic properties in the dog (Rawes, D. A., and McIntyre, A., private communications).