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tape-vronn {Tcenia solium). It has also been extensively applied to 

 the same purpose by the profession in Edinburgh, and other parts of 

 Scotland. It had fallen into disuse greatly in this neighbourhood, in 

 consequence of supposed inefficiency, but undeservedly so, until 

 Prof, Christison, in two papers published in the ' Edinburgh Monthly 

 Medical Journal,' for June 1852, and July, 1853 (' On the Treatment 

 of Tape-worm by the Male Shield Fern'), showed that the want of 

 success, in some cases, depended on bad preparations of the root, or 

 old roots, being used. He found it almost uniformly successful in the 

 form of an oleo-resinous extract, obtained by percolation of the root 

 with ether. It is recommended in the dose of eighteen to twenty-four 

 grains, followed by a purgative. In many parts of England, nothing 

 is more common as a vermifuge than half a drachm to a drachm of 

 the powder of the root, made up in the form of electuary, with a lit- 

 tle treacle or jelly ; in other parts of the country, the oil of the male 

 fern is an equally common nostrum. But in neither of the latter con- 

 ditions can its action be relied upon, especially if purchased in the 

 shops of druggists, who generally not only sell old roots and bad pre- 

 parations, but some the roots of totally different species. It is most 

 apt to be, and has most frequently been, confounded with Athyrium 

 Filix-foemina, the root of which it has yet to be proved has a similar 

 virtue. If time permit, in the course of this summer, 1 intend making 

 a series of experiments, to determine whether the same anthelmintic, 

 or what, properties reside in the roots of other of our common ferns, 

 This fern was first used at Geneve, by Peschier, some twenty or thirty 

 years ago, in the form of an etherial extract ; but it appears to have 

 been recommended as a vermifuge by Theophrasus, Dioscorides, and 

 Galen ; and it formed the chief part of Madame Nouffer's celebrated 

 remedy for the tape-worm. It does not appear to be accurately deter- 

 mined on what special ingredients of the root its vermifuge property 

 depends : we know it contains tannic and gallic acids. There is some 

 contrariety of opinion as to the proper period of the year for collect- 

 ing the plant for use ; Peschier regarding it as most effectual if 

 gathered between May and September, and Prof Christison consider- 

 ing the date of collection immaterial. The only caution necessary in 

 using it is, probably, that it ought always to be hoid fresh ; if gathered 

 and prepared by the practitioner himself, so much the better. The 

 oleo-resin, however, seems to retain its properties for a considerable 

 time ; though what this period accurately is, still remains siih judice . 

 It has been found quite efficient after being kept a year (Prof. Chris- 

 tison, loc. cit.) Prof Christison commends it as a less disagreeable 



