57 



Dangerous Vermicides. 



The use of many so-called Vermicides entails grave risks, 

 from the dangerous or poisonous properties they possess. 

 Thus perchloride of iron is a powerful astringent, sulphuric 

 ether a narcotic, naphthaline and corrosive sublimate danger- 

 ous irritant poisons. All these are given in enemas. Cowhage, 

 or mucuna (also known as Stizolobium and Dolichos Pruriens), 

 is extremely irritant ; turpentine, which is also an important 

 ingredient of Oleum Chaberti, once a popular anthelmintic, 

 is a dangerous poison, affecting particularly the brain and 

 kidneys ; and Spigelia in large doses is a narcotic poison. 

 Cousso, Brayera Anthelmintica, and Andira are all irritants. 

 Tansy is irritant, narcotic and emmenagogue ; Valerian 

 (Baldrian) is a nerve depressant ; and Veratrum a powerful 

 irritant poison ; whilst Geoffrey a Inermis causes vomiting, 

 fever and delirium. Santonica and Santonine, the most 

 popular vermicides, are dealt with below. 



The Most Popular Anthelmintic Santonine. 



By far the most generally used vermicide is Santonine, 

 which is, indeed, with many practitioners, the routine treat- 

 ment. Santonine is a white, crystalline powder, containing 

 the active principle of the flowers of Artemisia Santonica, 

 formerly known as Semen contra vermes. It is usual to give 

 small doses from J to 2 grains of the drug, either alone, 

 or, more often, combined with a purgative powder, such as 

 calomel, jalap, or the compound rhubarb powder ; and the 

 dose is repeated as often as may be considered necessary. 

 It is also occasionally given in an enema. 



The Dangers of Santonine. 



Santonine, however, is very far from being reliable in its 

 action on Oxyuris. It frequently entirely fails to destroy the 

 threadworms ; while its effect on the patient may be ex- 

 tremely disagreeable, or, particularly in the case of children, 

 even dangerous. It is, in fact, recognised as a powerful 

 poison, the symptoms of Santonine poisoning being chroma- 

 topsia, or coloured vision, first blue, then yellow, ending in 

 total loss of colour-vision ; green or deep yellow colour of 

 the urine ; disturbances of consciousness, cold surface, aphasia, 



