8 ACTION OF ANTHELMINTICS ON PAKASITES. 



vulsions and insensibility three years later, and on treatment with a vermifuge 

 had passed a tapeworm with the head. Two months later the patient had 

 stronger convulsions,* dizziness, and shortness of breath on slight exertion. 

 About this time growths appeared on the temples and the sternocleido- 

 mastoideus. Five months later the patient had three cramp-like attacks in 

 one day, followed by great exhaustion. At this time the patient came to De 

 Renzi, who found small swellings over the entire body and great nervous de- 

 pression. On the history given here he diagnosed cysticercus of the brain and 

 skin. After a year's ambulant treatment with male fern the nervous trouble 

 had disappeared, so had the swellings, with the exception of one over the left 

 temple, and this was removed by operation and showed the presence of a 

 cysticercus. The eosinophilia present at the beginning of the treatment had 

 disappeared. 



2. The second patient, a woman, had an infection with Tcenia solium three 

 years before. For two years previous to treatment she had suffered from 

 dizziness, headache, weak memory, polyuria, and weakness. A swelling over 

 the manubrium sterni showed all the characteristics of a cysticercus. After a 

 week's treatment the nervous symptoms had disappeared and the swelling was 

 reduced to one-third its original volume. A microscopic examination of the 

 swelling was made, but De Renzi states that in this examination nothing of 

 special importance was noted. 



3. In De Renzi's third case there was a history of increasing pain in the 

 hypochondrium for 20 months, no fever or emaciation, increase in the area of 

 liver dullness, eosinophilia present, urine normal. The case was diagnosed, as 

 hepatic echinococcosis, and all symptoms' disappeared under treatment in 20 

 days. * * * Fecal examination did not show parasites or their eggs. 



4. The fourth patient was a woman who had suffered for a year with a pain 

 in the thorax and often coughed blood. In the absence of tubercular symptoms 

 and because the patient coughed up membranes, " Hautchen," a diagnosis of 

 lung echinococcosis was made by De Renzi and confirmed by two associates. 

 In the brief period of six days she was cured by male fern. 



Dianoux (1909) has recorded a case in which ocular and subcu- 

 taneous cysticercosis, possibly complicated by cerebral cysticercosis, 

 was apparently cured by the administration of male fern. 



Before coming under Dianoux's care, March 25, the patient had had several 

 epileptiform attacks, and had nearly lost the sight of the left eye. Examination 

 with the ophthalmoscope showed the presence of a cysticercus in the vitreous 

 humor, and some weeks later a nodule, presumably a cysticercus, was found 

 beneath the skin of the groin. After treatment with male fern and calomel the 

 patient passed 4 or 5 meters of tapeworm (Tcenia solium}. May 2 the patient 

 experienced an epileptifoim convulsion. From May 3 to 20 the patient took 2 

 grams of extract of male fern per day ; treatment was then suspended a few 

 days. On May 24 a slight epileptiform attack occurred. Examination with the 

 ophthalmoscope showed that the cysticercus had become shriveled and motion- 

 less. From May 25 to June 5, 2 grams of extract of male fern per day were 

 administered. June 12 the cyst in the groin was discovered. June 16 an epi- 

 leptiform attack occurred, lasting 15 minutes, and the following day there was 

 another attack. Treatment was resumed. July 2 treatment was suspended; 

 the cyst had disappeared from the groin ; the general health of the patient was 

 excellent. During 10 days in August the patient was given 1.5 grams of extract 

 of male fern per day. November 15 the patient was discharged as cured. The 

 cyslicercus had entirely disappeared from the eye. The only evidence of its 

 former presence was a cicatrice and vascular condition of the retina at the 



