394 WORMS. 



find it to be composed quite as much of worms as of excre- 

 ment. This dung is taken from the aged horses sent to be 

 slaughtered, and is sufficient proof that worms are much 

 more common than is generally supposed. 



Treatment of worms. — Nature has endowed these animals 

 with such tenacity of life, that no matters known to us will 

 effect their destruction, though a few may answer the pur- 

 pose of their expulsion, Bots are so hardy as apparently 

 to survive immersion in oil, in alcohol, spirits of turpen- 

 tine, and even powerful solutions of mineral acids. The 

 continued use of salt mixed with the food appears, however, 

 obnoxious to them, for sometimes under its use their hold 

 gives way, and they are ejected. Bitters, purgatives, and 

 the mechanical irritation of pointed bodies, as pewter, tin, 

 &c., have no effect whatever upon bots : but with regard to 

 the other parasites, rather more success may be expected 

 from medical aid, in the form of vermifuges. It has been 

 attempted to effect the removal of worms mechanically, by 

 dissolving the mucus they are supposed to be imbedded in, 

 for which purpose lime-water, oil, solutions of aloes, &c. 

 have been injected by clyster up the rectum, and which 

 practice is most to be depended on for the ejection of asca- 

 rides when in the rectum. This practice of washing away 

 the mucus of the intestine, and thus to deprive the intes- 

 tine of the secretion given for its protection, is not to be 

 recommended, though oil for this end would be harmless. 

 Strong purges are given with the same intent, which may 

 remove them also from the whole alimentary track. Re- 

 medies have likewise been exhibited to destroy them within 

 the body, by the mechanical irritation of their spiculi ; 

 under which view, tin, brass, iron, pewter, are thought 

 remedial. The Indian caustic barley, and Indian pink, are 

 reputed vermifuges against the teres and ascaris. The oil 

 of turpentine has also been strongly recommended as an 

 excellent general vermifuge ; but, except for the destruc- 

 tion of the taenia, or tape-worm, it certainly does not 

 appear to deserve that character. 



The mode most in favour with modern practitioners, is 

 to give the horse having worms a drachm, or two drachms 

 of tartar emetic, for six mornings running. The tartar 

 emetic is to be administered in the form of ball, and to a 



