71 



troubles to arise from apparently so slight a cause ; but 

 the worst yet remains to be told. In the worst cases, 

 severe functional disturbances of the nervous centres 

 manifest themselves, more especially connected with 

 the brain and spinal cord, and showing themselves in 

 the occurrence of epilepsy, convulsions, and chorea. 

 This latter symptom, together with hysteria, is more 

 especially noticed in the female sex. Instances are 

 not wanting in which mania has been attributable 

 to the presence of Tseniae in the intestinal canal 

 (Cobbold). Neither have the nerves of special sense 

 escaped from harm ; and cases have been reported 

 where these worms appear to have caused strabis- 

 mus and amaurosis. Dr. Shrady reported to the East- 

 River Medical Association, of New York, a case of 

 blindness from the same cause, which was cured by 

 the expulsion of the worm (" N.-Y. Medical Record," 

 vol. i. p. 483). 



The embryos of these parasites, whether in the 

 form of Cysticercus, Echinococcus, or Acephalocyst, 

 may also be the cause of trouble ; but more especially 

 when situated in the cerebral substance, where, by 

 their presence, they give rise to convulsions, epilepti- 

 form seizures, and the like, as well as to injury of the 

 visual organs, when they are situated in that portion 

 of the nervous system. In the liver, they give rise to 

 icterus (from pressure upon the biliary ducts), to as- 

 cites, oedema of the extremities, anasarca, &c. (from 

 the obstructions they cause to the portal circulation). 

 In addition to this, the passage of the embryos may 

 give rise to fever, vomiting, and even death. 



