FOURTH LECTURE. 



THE TREATMENT OF VERMINOUS DISEASES. 



§ CIV. The asthenic diathesis of the human 

 body, especially when it prevailsin the gastric sys- 

 tem, is one of the chief circumstances which favours 

 the development of the verminous germs,(l) which 

 circulate in the mass of fluids in the form of very 

 small molecules, (^) or remain at rest in diflferent 

 parts, where accident may deposite them. (3) 



The effects produced by the use of emetics and 

 cathartics, which many physicians still prescribe 

 and administer to dissolve and expel the raucous 

 substance which we have already considered as 

 the aliment of worms, and which in the opinion of 

 some persons, favours also their adhesion to differ- 

 ent parts of the body, must not only be useless, 

 but even dangerous. 



If Monro and Rosen stei^'it) have sometimes 

 used emetics with some success^ it is to be attribut- 

 ed rather to the general efforts and concussion of 

 the frame, particularly of the stomach and intes- 

 tines, produced by the sudden and violent actioin 



