64 



Case of a little Girl of 5 A years. 



HISTORY : This is best set forth by the following letter, 

 received from the patient's father : 



" I have been recommended by Mrs. ... to write to you 

 respecting my daughter, aged 5J years. She has been suffer- 

 ing for some time past with worms. They appear to be like 

 little white threads of cotton, in the motion. I have taken her 

 to two local doctors, who have told me to give her Syrup of 

 Figs, and use a syringe, which I have done for some time. 

 This, however, appears to do good for a short time only ; and 

 it really seems to make her so very weak. One doctor said 

 she has them in her chest. She is always at her nose, and 

 grinds her teeth very much at night, when asleep ; and gets 

 so very pale. 



c ' She suffers at times with a cough. This appears to get worse 

 at times, and if I give her a worm -powder, which I have 

 obtained from the chemist, it appears to relieve the cough for 

 a time. 



" I should feel grateful if you would tell me what I could do 

 to relieve, or cure, my child of this complaint, which, I feel 

 sure, is most distressing to her/' 



EXAMINATION, Dec. 16th : Everything stated in the above 

 letter was confirmed. The child appeared very shy, irritable 

 at times, extremely nervous, and depressed. She complained 

 of occasional headaches. She was well -nourished, but not fat. 

 Height, 3 feet 7 inches. Her complexion was clear, but 

 markedly pale ; in fact, she was anaemic. Her eyes were 

 dull, and sunken, and surrounded by dark rings. On the 

 whole, she presented, in a striking degree, the aspect of a 

 sufferer from tuberculosis. The vulva and vagina were in- 

 flamed, and showed slight leucorrhoea ; and there was 

 evidence that the habit of self-abuse had been contracted. 



One uncle and one aunt were stated to have died of phthisis. 



TREATMENT : At first, only palliative treatment was 

 resorte'd to. She was ordered three drops of the tincture, 

 three times a day, before meals. 



PROGRESS : This is indicated by a letter from the father, 

 dated Dec. 20th, i.e., 4 days after the treatment commenced : 



'' I am writing you, as you requested, to report upon the 



