WORMS IN THE INTESTINAL CANAL HELMINTHIASIS. 629 



the expectations entertained of it ; at least, the brilliant results at- 

 tested by some observers have not been attained by others. From two 

 drachms to half an ounce may be macerated in water, or made into 

 an electuary with honey, and given in two doses, with an interval of 

 half an hour, in the morning, after a cup of coffee has been taken. If 

 nausea occur, we may give some lemon-juice. If the patient do not 

 have a passage in three hours, we may give a dose of castor-oil or 

 senna. 



Although oil of turpentine is among the most certain remedies for 

 tape-worm, it should only be used in case of necessity, not only on ao- 

 count of its disagreeable taste, but because in the requisite doses it is 

 apt to irritate the urinary organs. One or two ounces of oil of turpen- 

 tine alone, or mixed with honey or castor-oil, or in emulsion, are to be 

 given in one dose, at bed-time. 



It is best to use any of these remedies at times when some of the 

 links of the tape-worm have been passed spontaneously ; but it is quite 

 unnecessary to delay treatment till certain phases of the moon, when, 

 according to popular belief, the worms may be more readily dislodged. 

 We should employ some preparatory treatment : let the patient live 

 moderately, keep his bowels open with castor-oil, and let him live for a 

 few days almost exclusively on herring, ham, onions, and other salty 

 and spicy food. Instead of the above, the patient may eat freely of 

 wild strawberries, huckleberries, etc., as the numerous seeds of these 

 fruits appear to sicken the worm (Jfilchenmeister). The cure cannot 

 be regarded as perfect till we find the head of the animal ; nor must 

 we forget that there may be more than one tape-worm in the intes- 

 tines. Kameela, a powder obtained from the capsules of JRottera tino- 

 toria ( 3 ij iij, rubbed up with water), cortex mtcsence ( i ij, with 

 honey), radix ponnce ( 3 j ij), and a few other medicines, have been 

 more or less lauded as remedies for tape-worm, but after repeated 

 trials no one of them has proved peculiarly efficacious. 



For ascaris lumbricoides, semina cynce vel santonici, the buds of 

 Artemisia contra, justly enjoy the best reputation. The practice of 

 giving an electuary, made of the powdered seeds of worm-seed, jalap, 

 valerian, honey, and other substances, by which children were formerly 

 tortured several times a year, as well as its exhibition in the shape of 

 worm-chocolate or cakes, is now almost displaced by the more certain 

 and agreeable preparations, such as the ethereal extract, and particu- 

 larly santonin. Of the former we may give a child gr. v x during 

 the day, of the latter, gr. iij jv. Apothecaries often keep troches of 

 santonin, containing gr. ss j each, which taste pleasantly. J&lchen- 

 meister advises dissolving santonin, gr. ij iv, in castor-oil i, and 

 giving a teaspoonful of this solution every hour till it acts ; he had 



