Feb. 18, 1918 Efficacy of Some Anthelmintics 431 



and five times its volume of castor oil the third dose. While this treat- 

 ment removed 15 out of 17 ascarids (Belascaris marginata), it was 

 ineffective for hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum), whipworms {Tri- 

 churis depressiuscula) , and Dipylidium caninum. This method was less 

 satisfactory than that employed in the previous experiment. The castor 

 oil given was insufficient to overcome the constipating effect of the 

 chenopodium; the chenopodium, being promptly released from the cap- 

 sules, was brought undiluted against the gastric mucosa, causing con- 

 siderable irritation, as shown by the fact that all dogs vomited promptly 

 after the administration of the drug. Two of the dogs died from the 

 treatment, one from traumatic pneumonia, due to the fact that the cap- 

 sule opened in the lar3mx, allowing oil to penetrate the lungs. The other 

 dog which died was a bitch, containing 11 well-developed fetuses, and 

 it is likely that the pregnancy in this case was a condition contributing 

 to the animal's inability to withstand the large amount of chenopodium 

 given. 



A third experiment was undertaken to test the efficacy of oil of cheno- 

 poditmi when given in doses of o.i mil per kilo, and the dose repeated 

 daily for a total of six doses. The chenopodium was given mixed with 

 10 times its volume of olive oil, and was preceded each day by castor oil 

 in amount equal to the olive oil ; i minim of chloroform per kilo of weight 

 was added to the mixture of chenopodium and olive oil the first day and 

 to the castor oil on the following days. The animals were kept on half 

 feed during the time the treatment was being given. 



In this experiment all of the 8 ascarids present and 94 out of 133 

 hookworms were removed. This increased efficacy against hookworms 

 is in the writers' opinion due largely to the chloroform administered 

 with the chenopodium, since in none of their numerous experiments with 

 chenopodium have they ever found it so efficacious for hookworms when 

 given with castor oil only. The treatment was entirely ineffective for 

 whipworms (Trichuris depressiuscula) or for Dipylidium caninum. 



This method of administration proved generally satisfactory. The 

 individual dose was sufficiently diluted to prevent any undue ptyalism 

 when administered, and there were no symptoms of acute distress, which 

 occurred when the oil was given in a capsule. 



The results of this experiment led the writers to make another test of 

 chenopodium and chloroform as a remedy for mixed infestation, cheno- 

 podium being in their experience the most successful remedy for ascarids 

 and chloroform the best remedy for hookworms. This combination 

 seems to be entirely compatible both physiologically and pharmaceu- 

 tically. These drugs when combined with castor oil form a homogeneous 

 and fairly stable mixture, and the action of each drug is not inhibited by 

 the other. 



Four dogs having been given a preliminary purgative of castor oil, 

 followed by a 24-hour fast, were given chenopodium and chloroform, both 



