80 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



person uninformed as to the true cause of the disorder might 

 be led to treat the symptom as arising from a totally different 

 source. In female patients the nervous symptoms display 

 features more or less peculiar to the sex. The restlessness 

 and anxiety are excessive, and at times accompanied by cho- 

 rea and fits of hysteria. In the worst cases, in both sexes, 

 the cerebral disturbance may show itself in convulsions and 

 epileptiform seizures. I regret to have to add that in not a 

 few instances even mania itself has been entirely attributable 

 to the presence of tape-worms in the intestinal canal." Such 

 are the usual symptoms, according to Dr. Cobbold. Many un- 

 usual and remarkable cases are on record. In one instance, 

 mania of eight years duration was completely cured by the 

 removal of the parasite. In another, hysteria was caused by 

 eighteen tape-worms in one patient. Many cases of insanity, 

 due to this cause, arc also on record. The best and perhaps 

 only sure evidence of tape-worms is the passage of the joints 

 from the intestine. 



Remedies. 



The remedies for tape-worms are numerous and, if fresh 

 and pure drugs be used, there are several that appear to be 

 perfectly reliable in most cases. These remedies should, how- 

 ever, be administered with proper precautions. Therefore, pa- 

 tients afflicted in this way should immediately place them- 

 selves under the care of a reliable and competent physician. 



The remedies chiefly used are the oil or root of male-fern, 

 kousso, kamala, oil of turpentine, panna, pumpkin-seeds, and 

 pomegranate-root bark. These are generally administered 

 while the patient fasts. The pumpkin-seeds are perhaps the 

 most domestic remedy, as well as one of the best, and safest in 

 the hands of inexperienced persons. The fresh seeds may be 

 bruised or pounded in a mortar, and mixed with water into a 

 paste, of which the patient may eat freely, morning and even- 

 ing, at the same time fasting, or eating sparingly soups or similar 

 food. The root of the male-fern (Aspidium filix mas) is gen- 

 erally regarded as the most certain remedy, if fresh and pure. 

 The dose for an adult is ten to fifteen grammes of the powder, 

 morning and evening, followed by a purgative. The etherial 



