THREAD-WORMS 1/3 



into man. The egg-capsule is dissolved off or bursts in 

 the stomach, and the embryos become sexually mature 

 in about fourteen days. 



Infection from man to man takes place if the eggs are 

 transferred by hand, directly or indirectly. In crowded 

 institutions, especially amongst children, general infection 

 can readily take place. 



The local irritation is the main trouble in most cases, 

 and in many of these it is sufficiently severe to cause 

 insomnia. In other cases reflex symptoms are set up in 

 children, often causing nocturnal micturition and pre- 

 disposing to masturbation, particularly amongst girls, and 

 in rare cases are said to induce epileptiform convulsions. 



Treatment. The chronicity of the infections is due to 

 the frequent reinfections. Large enenlata of infusion 

 of quassia and other substances will lead to the passage 

 of the mature and the nearly mature worms which 

 are in the sigmoid flexure. This, preceded by free 

 purgation, will give rest for a week or two ; and if the 

 process is repeated at intervals of three or four days 

 several times, all the worms will be passed without any 

 eggs being deposited on the perineum. In any case, 

 the perineum and the margin of the anus should be 

 smeared with mercurial ointment. This either prevents 

 the adults depositing the eggs, or kills off the eggs and 

 also allays the irritation. 



Treatment by the mouth with eucalyptus oil, chloro- 

 form, and ol. ricini, as for ankylostomes, causes the 

 evacuation of immature as well as of mature worms in 

 very large numbers. This method, combined with local 

 application of mercurial ointment, is the most satisfactory, 

 but in children the doses must be small. 



ACANTHOCEPHALA. 



Acanthocephala. Elongated round worms with a pro- 

 trusible proboscis thickly covered with hooks. No mouth 

 or alimentary canal. The sexes are separate, and the 

 sexual organs are well developed. In the male there are 



