Class L i. 4. 12. CF IRRITATION. ( 45 



thefe worms as well as the taps-worms, are probably acquired 

 from without ? this may account for their re-appearance a few- 

 weeks or months after they have been deftroyed ; or can this 

 happen from the eggs or parts cf them remaining ? 



Afcarides appear to be of two kinds, the common fmall one 

 like a thread ; which has a very fharp head* as appears in the mi- 

 croicope ; and which is fo tender, that the cold air foon renders 

 it motionlefs ; and a larger kind above an inch long, and nearly 

 as thick as a very fmall crow-quill, and which is very hard in re- 

 fpe& to its texture, and very tenacious of life. One of thefe laft 

 was brought to me, and was Immediately immerfed in a ftrong 

 folution of fugar of lead, and lived in it a very long time without 

 apparent inconvenience. 



M. M. Afcarides are faid to be weakened by twenty grains 

 of cinnabar and live of rhubarb taken every night, but not to be 

 cured by this procefs. As thefe worms are found only in the 

 rectum, variety of clyfters have been recommended. A clyfter 

 confiding of one eighth or one fourth of an ounce of fuccotrine 

 aloes in powder boiled in a pint of milk or of gruel, till it is dif- 

 folved, and injected once a week for many weeks, I believe has 

 ibmetimes effected a cure. I was informed of a cafe, where fo- 

 lutions of mercurial ointment were ufed as a clyfter every night 

 for a month without fuccefs. Clyfters of Harrowgate water are 

 recommended, either of the natural, or of the factitious, a^ de- 

 fcribed below, which might have a greater proportion of liver 

 of fulphur in it. As the cold air foon deftroys them, after they 

 are voided, could clyfters of iced water be ufed with advantage ? 

 or of fpirit of wine and water ? or of ether and water ? Mi 

 not a piece of candle, about an inch long 3 or two fuch pieces, 

 fmeared with mercurial ointment, and introduced into the anus 

 at night, or twice a day, be effectual by comprefling their nidus, 

 as well as by the poifon of the mercury ? 



The clyfters (hould be large in quantity, that they may pafs 

 high in the rectum, as two drams of tobacco boiled a minute in 

 a pint of water. Or perhaps what might be ftrll more effica- 

 cious and lefs inconvenient, the fmoke of tobacco injected by 

 a proper apparatus every night, or alternate nights, for fix or 

 eight weeks. This was long fince recommended, I think, by 

 Mr. Turner of Liverpool •, and the reafon it has not fuccceded, 

 I believe to have been owing to the imperfectionaBof the joints 

 of the common apparatus for injecting the fmoke of tobacco, fo 

 that it did not pafs into the interline, though it was fuppofed to 

 do fo, as I onGe obferved. The fmoke mould be received from 

 the apparatus into a large bladder ; and it may then be certainly in- 

 jected like the common clyfter with fufficient force ; otherwise 



oiled 



