VERMINOUS DISEASllS. 255 



METHOD OF ODIER. 

 Oleum Ricini, 



§ CLI. The celebrated physician Odier, of 

 Geneva, first administered this oil for the purpose 

 of expelling worms from the human body, and par- 

 ticularly taeniae. (I79) The experiments of Rpdi, 

 of Malpighi, already mentioned, (180) as well as the 

 practice of Andry and other French physicians, 

 have confirmed the vermifuge property of oily sub- 

 stances ; and among these the fresh oil of the com- 

 mon ricinus(l81) has been found the most proper, 

 because from its mildness, the sick take it with 

 ease and without dislike. 



This oil both kills the worms and purges the 

 patient. Adults take three ounces for a dose, and 

 children a teaspoonful several times a day. It pro- 

 duces no pain ia the abdomen, as is the case with 

 most other purgatives ; this oil may also be given 

 without fear, even to ruptured persons. Goexe re- 

 lates (183) the case of a feeble and very irritable 

 old man, who had a double hernia, who soon re- 

 lieved himself of a taenia, by means of this salu- 

 tary oil.(183) 



§ CLII. The use of the oleum ricini has been 

 confined to cases of the unarmed taenia, because 

 Odier and his colleague Dunantf have never de- 

 stroyed the other species, with this remedy. I can 

 however say, that it sometimes serves wonderfully 

 well to expel also the armed taenia. 



