60 



seen in the stools. In many cases where no threadworms had 

 been suspected, it has been reported to me that hundreds and 

 hundreds made their appearance in this way. A short time 

 later no more are seen, all the worms having evidently been 

 destroyed and expelled ; and, provided no re-infection takes 

 place, which a little care will ensure, the sufferer is freed from 

 the invaders. 



If, nevertheless, re-infection does occur, and is detected 

 early, the effect of the drug is even more rapid, a few hours 

 being, as a rule, sufficient to clear out the new generation of 

 worms. Re-infection, therefore, presents no terrors when this 

 treatment is employed. 



Effect on Worms other than Oxyuris. 



The tincture destroys other intestinal parasites besides 

 Oxyuris, especially the smaller kinds. Several patients have 

 reported, that after taking it, they passed other worms as well 

 as threadworms, the species identified being Ascaris Lumbri- 

 coides and Tricocephalus Dispar. The latter, however, is far 

 from common in this country ; and though the former is met 

 with more frequently, it usually yields to treatment so readily 

 as to present no difficulties to the practitioner. Consequently, 

 I have so far made no special observations on the effect of this 

 drug upon the above parasites, and do not claim that it is a 

 specific for either of them. I am not aware whether it has any 

 effect upon tapeworms. 



Mode of Action. 



It will naturally be asked : how does the drug act ? I 

 believe the explanation to be that the minute doses of the 

 tincture given suffice to alter the composition of the digestive 

 juices in such a way, as to make them poisonous for the 

 minute Oxyurides. Their environment is no longer congenial, 

 and ,they flee from it ; or, if they fail to do so, they perish. 

 The situation may be aptly compared with the condition of 

 things, which exists when poisonous gases escape into a coal 

 mine. The miners endeavour to escape from the dangerous 

 atmosphere ; and if they cannot succeed in doing so, they are 

 asphyxiated. Incidentally, the action of this drug affords 

 incontrovertible, I should say almost ocular, evidence of the 



