THE T^NIA SOLIUM. 79 



the existence of taenia ; but when several of these 

 phenomena are found united in the same individual, 

 there are good grounds for suspecting its presence. 



If the patient, in whom several of these symp- 

 toms exist, has not already noticed fragments of taenia 

 in his evacuations, ib will not usually be long before 

 he discovers them, after his attention has been 

 directed to this point ; for, as has been already 

 stated, the passage of fragments of the taenia, or of 

 cucurbitini, occurs frequently and sometimes daily. 

 It should, however, be borne in mind that the spon- 

 taneous expulsion of taenia does not take place in 

 some cases excepting at intervals of several weeks, 

 or even months, so that it will always be advisable 

 to resort to the administration of an anthelmintic 

 before a negative diagnosis can be given. 



The complete expulsion of the taenia generally 

 causes a cessation of all the symptoms ; and that of 

 a part of the worm causes their cessation for a period 

 which is proportionable to the size of the portion 

 which is expelled. When the head alone remains in 

 the intestine, the symptoms do not re-appear \mti] 

 after several months. 



