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LXII. Cases illustrating the Effects of Oil of Turpentine in 

 expelling the Tape-ivorm*. 



Case U. 



By Thomas Hancock, M.D.F.M.S., Physician to the 



Finsbury Dispensary . 

 [Concluded from p. 308.] 



JL have used the ol. terebinth, in only one case of taenia. 

 Jane Woodward, a poor woman, about 45 years of age, first 

 applied to me at the London 'Electrical Dispensary, some 

 months ago. She had been for more than seven years af- 

 flicted in a very distressing manner with this complaint, 

 and was four times a patient in different hospitals; where, 

 by the use of active remedies, she obtained temporary relief 

 from pain, and frequently voided large portions of the taenia 

 per anum. So soon as she had recovered a little strength, 

 by indulging her appetite, after the violent operation of 

 purgatives in these hospitals, her abdomen began to increase 

 considerably in size, and small detached portions of taenia,. 

 about an inch or more in length, apparently endowed with 

 life, continued to pass at times through the rectum; so 

 that she was prevented from earning her bread, by this very 

 distressing circumstance. She had generally recourse to 

 purgatives on these occasions, and their operation had re- 

 gularly the effect of reducing the size of the abdomen; but. 

 her disease continued. I may also observe, that, after these 

 courses of medicine, she had less of rumbling in the intes- 

 tines, and felt less pain, than when she freely indulged her 

 appetite ; for then, to use her own expression, " the worms 

 appeared to gain strength, " according to the increase of her 

 own strength. 



About two weeks after the application of electrical sparks 

 to the abdomen, she discharged a portion of taenia, seven 

 yards in length, without any appearance of head, which 

 lived in cold water nearly three hours after its expulsion. 

 Mr. Chamberlaine informs me he has known the taenia live 

 nearly as long in water which was much above the tem- 

 perature of the human body; a sufficient proof of the ex- 

 traordinary tenacity of life in this animal. 



Electricity was continued for some weeks longer; but as 

 her pains also continued, and no more of the worm came 

 away, my friend Mr. Chamberlaine kindly offered to try the 



* From Transactions of the Medical Society of London, vol. i. part I. just 

 published. 



effect 



