41 



^Habitual constipation is the rule, but in many cases there 

 is diarrhoea 1 . This may be constant, or chronic 2 , and the 

 stools are sometimes mucous, or even streaked, or mixed, with 

 blood 3 . 



The abdomen is somewhat swollen, and very hard about 

 the navel. The lower part of the belly is hard, tender and 

 cold ; and there may be gnawing and burning sensations, 

 or acute colic pains in the intestines. Many patients say that 

 the abdominal pains are relieved by taking food 4 . But, on 

 the other hand, it has been ascertained that the ingestion of 

 certain articles of diet, such as tea and coffee, has an irritating 

 and disturbing effect on the threadworms, and causes exacer- 

 bation of most of the symptoms 5 . 



Abnormalities of Micturition. 



A hypersensitive condition of the bladder is common, 

 leading to increased frequency of micturition ; and, in children, 

 this may take the form of nocturnal enuresis, or wetting the 

 bed. 



Abnormalities of Nervous Phenomena and Temperament. 



The patient shows signs of nervousness, which are apt to be 

 specially marked in children. The temper is peevish, and the 

 child cries on slight provocation. Shivering sensations, 

 biting the nails, boring or picking at the nose, grinding the 

 teeth, low spirits, and a general condition of restlessness, are 

 common symptoms. Palpitation of the heart, and a nervous, 

 or spasmodic cough, are frequently observed 6 . And the 



1 " lis enim, qui vermibus labor- 4 " En general, les douleurs aug- 



ant, incerta alvus est, haud raro mentent dans 1'etat de vacuite des 



stricta, frequentissime laxior." intestins, et cessent apres le repas 



(PALMER, J. F., op. tit., p. 4.) ou apres avoir bu de 1'eau tres- 



- " I/inflammation peut se borner froide." (PERGATJD, P. P., op. cit., 



a la surface interne de la muquese p. 16.) 



. . . c'est ainsi qu'on peut ex- 5 " Gewisse Speisen, besonders 



pliquer . . . ces diarrhees chron- Mohren, Zwiebeln, Friichte, u.s.w., 



iques qui continuent indefiniment machen die Wurmer besonders un- 



tant que la cause n'est enlevee." ruhig, die dann wohl wahrend des 



(RAYNATJD, H. L., Quelques cas de ganzen Tages durch das angedeutete 



colique vermineuse, Montpellier, Jucken belastigen." (KUECHENMEIS- 



1866, p. 13.) TER, G. F. A., op. cit., p. 288.) 



3 " . . . Les excretions alvines 6 " . . . des palpitations de 



sont glaireuses, et souvent teintes coeur, la tentence aux syncopes, une 



de sang. 7 ' (TURPIN, V., op. cit., toux quinteuse ou convulsive." 



P- 14.) (FlDELIN, P., op. Cit., p. 36.) 



