VERMINOUS DISEASES. 219 



Oil the contrary, an individual attacked with 

 taenia, of a cachectic constitution, in whom the as- 

 thenic diathesis prevails, will be with certainty 

 cured, by means of a stimulant treatment propor- 

 tioned to his state of weakness. This being grant- 

 ed, we clearly comprehend how some persons liave 

 been cured by taking tartrite of antimony, (i27) sul- 

 phate of soda,( 128 nitrate of pi>tass,(t-'J9; gambo- 

 gia,(130) or jalap,(131) and other similar remedies ; 

 while these same medicinal substances administer- 

 ed to other patients, also affected with taenia, have 

 been unsuccessful, or even injurious. 



This also explains why recourse must some- 

 times be had to opium, (132) to electricity,(133) 

 and to a stimulant regimen. Besides the variety 

 of constitutions, the different species of taeniae oc» 

 casion, as we have said, a noteable difference in the 

 success of the treatment undertaken with these med- 

 icines. 



A gentle evacuant or a bracer, though light, 

 are ordinarily sufficient to drive out the unarm- 

 ed taenia ; the armed taeniae, on the contrary, are 

 not "commonly detached from the walls of the in- 

 testines, till after the exhibition of a drastic pur> 

 gative, which, by irritating the intestinal tube, oc- 

 casions a violent and rapid peristaltic motion, whicli 

 obliges it to give up its hold, or by another remedy 

 which acts on the worm with a force altogether me- 

 chanical, for example, like the oxide of tin. (134) 



It is from a profound examination of these prac- 

 tical results, that we arrive at the knowledge of 



