'(J28 AFFECTIONS OF THE INTESTINAL CANAL. 



they use for raw meat. We can offer no prophylactic treatment for 

 the other varieties of worms, as we do not know their mode of 

 origin. 



Of the numerous remedies which were formerly used for removing 

 tape-worm, we now only employ male fern, pomegranate-rind, koosso, 

 and oil of turpentine [pumpkin-seeds], 



Male fern Radix filicis maris appears to be chiefly efficacious 

 against bothriocephalus, and often fails when given for taenia solium. 

 Half a drachm or a drachm of the powdered root is given at a dose, and 

 two or three such doses are taken in the morning, fasting, or at bed- 

 time. A few hours later, or, if the powder be taken at bed-time, the 

 next morning, we give a sharp laxative of gamboge, scammony, or 

 calomel, or an ounce or more of castor-oil. The ethereal extract of 

 male fern, which is usually made into pills, with equal parts of the 

 powdered root, and given in doses of a scruple or half drachm, divided 

 into two portions, is more certain and more easily taken. Male fern 

 enters into most of the numerous and complicated worm-medicines, 

 which are of late more and more neglected. 



Pomegranate-rind Cortex radicis punicce granati when fresh, 

 appears to be one of the most certain remedies against taenia solium. 

 We pour a pint or two of water over two or four ounces of it, and, 

 after macerating for twenty-four hours, boil it down to one-halt This 

 decoction is generally divided into three doses, and used in the morn- 

 ing, fasting, and, although very usually efficacious, it is occasionally 

 vomited by the patient, and always causes excessive pain hi the abdo- 

 men for hours. I can urgently recommend that, before using the de- 

 coction, the simple maceration should be tried ; this is also made from 

 two or four ounces of the rind. This maceration acts much more 

 mildly ; the patients suffer scarcely any, and after its use I have fre- 

 quently seen one tape-worm passed, and in one case three, with their 

 heads, were passed. If the maceration fails, the decoction may be 

 tried ID a few days. After the exhibition of pomegranate-rind, the 

 worm usually passes unbroken, and is often rolled into a ball. If it 

 be not passed in from one to three hours after the last dose, we may 

 give one or two ounces of castor-oil. KUchenmeister recommends 

 making an extract from four or six ounces of pomegranate-rind, and 

 adding this, with from four to six ounces of hot water, to a scruple or 

 half a drachm of ethereal extract of male fern, and four to six grains of 

 gamboge. Two cups of this mixture taken, with an interval of three- 

 quarters of an hour, are said to expel the worm. If this do not ro- 

 Bult in an hour and a half, the third should be administered. 



Koosso the dried and powdered flowers of Brayera anthelmin- 

 ticaa. remedy recently introduced from Abvssinia, has not fulfilled 



