added many kindred conditions, but those mentioned will 

 suffice. With regard to helminthiasis it is a fact, as proved 

 by daily experience, that the children of parents who are 

 infected by intestinal worms (especially ascaris vermicularis 

 and ascaris lumbrico'ides] are also attacked with these para- 

 sites, often at a very tender age, when they cannot have 

 been caused by any noxious influences ; and sometimes 

 even from their very birth. Dr. Steinau says he had fre- 

 quent opportunities in the Hospital for Diseased Children, 

 in Berlin, to assure himself of the hereditary character of 

 this complaint. The hereditariness of haemorrhoids is of 

 too frequent occurrence to render it necessary to enlarge 

 upon it. Who has not witnessed dyspepsia, in its protean 

 forms, handed down from parent to child, and been struck 

 by the frequency a patient will say " My father (or mother) 

 had a very weak stomach too ? " Hernia has been known 

 to have been inherited through many generations. Many 

 competent writers, says Steinau, have cited cases to prove 

 this ; and Richter saw several children, whose fathers were 

 ruptured, suffering from the same complaint, having in 

 each case arisen without any external cause, and quite spon- 

 taneously. Speaking of dropsy, Rougemont, supported by 

 the testimony of several credible writers, says that it is 

 proved by numerous observations that the children of such 

 parents as have died of dropsy became at a certain age also 

 dropsical. Many cases have been noticed of dropsical 

 women being delivered of dropsical children particularly 

 one case quoted by Hufeland, and observed by Olivier. 

 Chronic foetor oris, which does not appear to be produced 

 by any visible local cause, is also often hereditary. 1 To 

 these might be added abdominal cramp, flatulence, con- 

 stipation, pyrosis, and many other allied conditions. 

 1 Steinau. 



