44 DISEASES CLASS!, r. 4. ix. 



difeafe, and the hairs en full grown hairy caterpillars, if the ani- 

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

 to flick in the (kin, and to produce flight inflammation and itch- 

 ing, and might alfo be worth trying in worm-cafes. But it is 

 aflerted in M. Vaillant's Travels in Africa, that when thefe in- 

 fects feed on poifonous plants, they become themfelves fo venom- 

 ous, that the natives collecl: a juice from them, with which 



a putrid they fmear their war weapons to poifonthem. 

 . "'atria. Tape-worm confills of a chain of animals ex- 

 tending from the ftomach to the anus. See Seel. XXXIX. 2. 3. 



-quently exifis in cats, rats, and geefe, and probably in many 



r animals. 



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

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

 dog in confequence of violent purgatives, each of which were 

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

 bafin ; which feemed not much to inconvenience them. When 

 the water was cool, they were taken out and put into gin or 

 whi&ey of the ftrongeft kind, in which their life and activity 

 continued unimpaired ; and they were at length killed by adding 

 to the fpirit a quantity of corrofive fublimate. Medic. Comment, 

 for 1791, p. 370. ^ 



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

 fuch as is ufed on the back of looking-glaiTea ; an ounce fhould 

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

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

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

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

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

 chanical prefiure, a&ing upon it the whole way. Electric {hocks 

 through the duodenum greatly aflift the operation. Large dofes 

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

 fernroot feems to be of no ufe, as recommended by M. Nouffli- 

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

 fomctimes brought up by vomiting ; when either of thefe worms 

 is in the ftomach it gives a tickling fenfation about the fauces, 

 which parts fympathize with the cardia ventriculi. See Annals 

 cf Medicine, 1 797. "Give an emetic oftartarized antimony, or 

 of vitriol of zinc. 



12. Afcarides. Threadworms. Thefe worms are faid to be more 

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

 the fens of Lincolnfhire. Do they efcape from the body and be- 

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

 one child to another in the fame bed ? Are they acquired from 

 flies or worms, which are feen in putrid neceflary houfes, us 



