224 SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 



consisted cliiefly in the administration of three 

 drachms of the pulverised root in four ounces of the 

 infusion, and of a bolus composed of calomel, scam- 

 mony, and gamboge after an interval of two hours. 

 When vomiting occurred, the remedy was repeated ; 

 and strong coffee was administered to prevent sick- 

 ness. The dose was divided into two, or diminished 

 in quantity, for delicate adults and children. When 

 the bolus had failed in producing purgation within 

 four hours, or if the worm had not been wholly 

 expelled, it was usual to give to the patient an 

 ounce of the sulphate of magnesia dissolved in warm 

 water. 



Anthelmintic properties have also been attributed 

 to another species of fern, the Aspidium athaman- 

 ticum, which will be described under the head of 

 " Panna!' 



Assafcetida. 



This remedy has been long used in the 

 treatment of intestinal entozoa. It is almost inert 

 in the expulsion of the taenia, but it is sometimes 

 very serviceable, when given in the form of pills, in 

 cases of lumbrici, and when used in the form of 

 enemata, for the cure of oxyurides. 



It undoubtedly exercises a valuable anthelmintic 

 action upon the worms which have their habitat in 

 the bronchial tubes of ruminant animals ; and it is 

 evident that, as it is taken into the stomach, it can 

 only act upon the entozoa situated in the air-pas- 

 sages through the medium of pulmonary absorption. 

 Recent experiments tend to prove that this medicinal 

 agent also expels the distoma from the biliary ducts ; 



