314 WORMING. 



cause of the disease. It may be remarked here, tliat it is 

 only an offset of this error that attributes another origin of 

 madness to the tooth-ache, occasioned by supposed maggots 

 within the teeth. 



I feel almost ashamed to contend this point gravely; but 

 when it is considered that elegant and learned writers still 

 advocate, if not the existence of a worm under the dog's 

 tongue, at least, the presence of a something, the removal 

 of which certainly, in their opinions, proves a prophylac- 

 tick, and either altogether prevents the animal at any time 

 going mad, or otherwise renders him wholly incapable of 

 mischief in case he should become so, it appears necessary. 



Anatomy has demonstrated, that many pendulous organs 

 have doublings of the surrounding skin, which doublings are 

 often sfrengthened by interposed ligamentous substances pur- 

 posely placed there still further to strengthen the duplica- 

 ture. In this way is the tongue of man, and most animals, 

 secured in its situation from being forced down the throat by 

 accident or convulsion. This fr®num,or bridle, immediately 

 appears prominent on opening a dog's month, and elevating his 

 tongue, where it may be seen extending from the root almost 

 to the apex. On the slightest inspection, its use as a bridle 

 and support to the lengthened organ must be apparent ; and 

 it must be torturing conjecture to devise any other purpose 

 for which it can be placed there. In the operation called 

 worming, the projecting skin is divided with a lancet, which 



In the Latin Poets on the Chase, we also meet with the same idea : — 

 " Plurima per catulos rabies, insutaque tardis 

 " Praecipitat cetale malum : sic tertius ergo 

 *' Anteire auxiliis, et primus vincere cavisas 

 " Namqvie subit, nodis qu^ lingua tenacibus haeret 

 " (Vermiculum dixere) mala atque incondita pestis." 



Grat. Talisci Cynegeticon , 383. 

 Gesner informs us, however, that the Greek medical writers were better 

 informed, and doubted whether this ligamentous substance was a worm 

 or not. 



