336 Expulsion of Tcenia ty Oleum Terelinthina. 



effect of his electuary of the dolichos pruriens. The pa- 

 tient took this at first without, but afterwards with, the 

 scobs stanni in large quantities, and for a considerable time: 

 but though, as she asserted, these medicines, more than any 

 she had ever taken, relieved her sufferings, they produced 

 no discharge of taenia. 



I now heard of the ol. tereb. having been administered 

 in this complaint, and resolved to give it a fair trial, espe- 

 cially as my patient was herself very anxious to use any re- 

 medy that promised the slightest probability of success. 

 I may premise, that her abdomen was enlarged as formerly, 

 her stools slimy, and, in short, all her symptoms indicated 

 that she had still large portions of taenia in her intestines. 

 I ordered her at first small doses of this oil, viz. two drachms 

 twice a day, mixed with treacle to disguise its taste. This 

 produced no other effect than an increase of pain and un- 

 easiness, and particularly on going to stool, as if it irritated 

 the rectum. The dose was now increased to half an ounce, 

 at longer intervals. The first dose in this quantity, which 

 she took without treacle, produced a little sickness and 

 confusion of ideas, and afterwards operated as a purge. She 

 complained of no uneasiness whatever in the urinary or- 

 gans. After these doses, she passed such a quantity of slimy 

 mucus, with such relief in all her painful symptoms, that 

 she earnestly entreated I would allow her to take a double 

 dose. The quantity of an ounce, which she now took, al- 

 ways produced a great degree of giddiness, as if she was in- 

 toxicated, which came on shortly after taking it, and con- 

 tinued for an hour or more, until the violent cathartic effect 

 which followed, removed it. 



Although tins medicine was repeated, after this manner, 

 every two or three days for a fortnight or more, by her own 

 particular desire, there was no appearance of taenia in her 

 stools. I could not, however, but observe, that the mucus 

 which was discharged so abundantly by the operation of 

 the ol. tereb. sometimes exhibited the appearance of white 

 films, as if the substance of the worm had been broken 

 down. She took the very large dose of an ounce and half 

 two or three times, afier the medicine began to lose its 

 effect, with results similar to those I have described. In 

 short, by her own account, violent purging was the only 

 thing that relieved her; and all kinds of strengthening re- 

 medies, as well as nourishing diet, uniformly increased 

 her sufferings, so that she abstained from food when her 

 appetite craved it, in order to avoid the anticipated pain. 



I have since heard that she went into the London Hospital, 



and 



