44 DISEASES CLASS I. 1. 4. 11. 



disease, and the hairs on full grown hairy caterpillars, if the ani- 

 mal be laid on the hand, especially between the fingers, are liable 

 to stick in the skin, and to produce slight inflammation and itch- 

 ing, and might also be worth trying in worm-cases. But it is 

 asserted in M. Vaillant's Travels in Africa, that when these in- 

 sects feed on poisonous plants, they become themselves so veno- 

 mous, that the natives collect a juice from them, with which 

 when putrid they smear their war-weapons to poison them. 



11. Tcenia. Tape- worm consists of a chain of animals ex- 

 tending from the stomach to the anus. See Sect. XXXIX. 2. 3. 

 It frequently exists in cats, rats, and geese, and probably in many 

 other animals. 



The worms of this genus possess a wonderful power of re- 

 taining life. Two of them, which were voided by a pointer 

 dog in consequence of violent purgatives, each of which was 

 several feet in length, had boiling water poured on them in a 

 basin; which seemed not much to inconvenience them. When 

 the watei was coo], they were taken out and put into gin or 

 whiskey of the strongest kind, in which their life and activity 

 continued unimpaired; and they were at length killed by adding 

 to the spirit a quantity of corrosive sublimate. Medic. Com- 

 ment, for 1791, p. 370. 



The tape-worm is cured by an amalgama of tin and quicksilver, 

 such as is used on the back of looking-glasses; an ounce should 

 be taken every two hours, till a pound is taken; and then a brisk 

 cathartic of Glauber's salt two ounces, and common salt one 

 ounce, dissolved in two wine pints of water, half a pint to be taken 

 every hour till it purges. The worm extends from the stomach 

 to the anus, and the amalgama tears it from the intestine by me- 

 chanical pressure, acting upon it the whole way. Electric shocks 

 through the duodenum greatly assists the operation. Large doses 

 of tin in powder. Iron filings in large doses. The powder of 

 fern root seems to be of no use, as recommended by M. Nouf- 

 flier. This worm, as well as the lumbricus or round- worm, is 

 sometimes brought up by vomiting; when either of these worms 

 is in the stomach it gives a tickling sensation about the fauces, 

 which parts sympathize with the cardia ventriculi. See Annals 

 of Medicine, 1797. Give an emetic of tartarized antimony, or 

 of vitriol of zinc. 



12. Ascarides. Thread worms. These worms are said to be more 

 frequent in some parts of this kingdom than in others, as near 

 the fens of Lincolnshire. Do they escape from the body and be- 

 come flies, like the bott-worm in horses? Do they crawl from 

 one child to another in tlie same bed? Are they acquired from 

 flies or worms, which are seen in putrid necessary houses, as 



