586 



THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



There can be no question that a large proportion of persons infested with tape- 

 worm are unconscious of any departure from the state of perfect health, but there 

 is as little doubt that in some instances func- 

 tional derangements occur which are referable to 

 the irritation it produces. Such are various 

 uncomfortable sensations in the abdomen ; pains 

 resembling colic, sometimes felt when the 

 stomach is empty, at others after certain articles 

 of food; variable appetite, now excessive, now 

 failing entirely ; slight diarrhoea or constipation, 

 and so on. Sometimes there is a constant 

 craving for food, debility, irritability of the 

 bladder, giddiness, noises in the ears, attacks of 

 faintness, restlessness, wasting, and itching at 

 the* nose and back passage. This somewhat 

 grave list of symptoms really contains nothing 

 that is at all characteristic, and the only positive 

 proof of the existence of the worm is the pas- 

 sage of the joints. 



We will now consider the different remedies 

 that may be employed for the expulsion of the 

 worm. 



The male shield-fern (Aspidium felix mas) 

 is perhaps the oldest and most widely-known 

 vermifuge. The patient must eat a very light 

 tea, but no supper, and just before bed- 

 time should swallow two table-spoonfuls of castor oil. On the following 

 morning after the oil has acted he is to take either Pr. 35 or a tea-spoonful of the 

 liquid extract of male shield-fern in a little milk. No food' is to be taken until 

 the bowels have freely acted, when the worm is usually expelled. The head should' 

 be carefully looked for. 



The bark of the pomegranate root (Punica granatum) is also an ancient and 

 extensively used remedy. Two ounces of the bruised bark, of the fresh root if 

 possible, are to be macerated for twenty-four hours in two pints of water, to be then 

 boiled down to a half, strained, and divided into three doses, one of which is to be 

 taken at half-hourly intervals. The medicine is to be taken on an empty stomach, and 

 must be repeated daily for four or five days. It is very desirable that the root from 

 which the bark is obtained should be fresh. 



Kousso the flowers and tops of a plant known as Brayera anthelmintica is a 

 quick and good vermifuge, an especial favourite in Abyssinia, where tape- worm is very 

 prevalent. The dose is half an ounce suspended in water, and it must be taken 

 fasting. An objection to its use is that it is somewhat costly, but it might be tried 

 in obstinate cases when other measures have failed. 



It must be admitted that in some cases tape-worm proves extremely obstinate, 

 but still persistence in treatment nearly always succeeds in getting rid of it at last. 



Fig. 11. JOINTS OF TAPE-WORM. 



A. Head (a), and a number of joints of body. 

 _ B. Microscopical structure of portions of three 



