BOTHRIOCEPHALUS LATUS. 10.1 



water, and at the same time small, pellucid, oleaginous drops 

 (sarcode) issue from the body. Whilst the Nematoda and Echino- 

 rhynchi swell up considerably, even to bursting, by imbibition, the 

 stronger transudation in the Cestoidea compensates for this imbi- 

 bition j and, on the Avhole, only a slight swelling is produced. 

 This explains the circumstance, that in violent watery diarrhoeas the 

 Nematoda, deprived of their power of adhesion, excessively swelled, 

 pass away much more readily than the Cestoidea, which usually, 

 at the utmost, are rendered sickly by the contact with water, 

 and throw off more of their last segments, which are more exposed 

 to swelling in comparison with the first joints of the colony, but long 

 resist the most violent diarrhoeas (not excluding even cholera). 

 It is a general observation, that in the Bothriocephali whole 

 series of segments pass off spontaneously, but never single 

 segments, as in the Teenies. Reliable data as to the duration of 

 the life of a single individual are wanting. The statements of 

 authors as to Bothriocephali of from fifty to sixty feet long are 

 incorrect. Where the coil of worms expelled is carefully examined 

 we shall find several specimens, even in smaller ones of from ten 

 to twenty feet in length. At least, this was the case with a coil 

 of worms of twenty feet long, given to me as a single worm, but 

 from which I could unfold a worm of fifteen and another of five 

 feet. Madame Heller and others have not very rarely seen 

 several specimens of Bothriocephali together. 



Prognosis. — The removal of Bothriocephalus latus is effected 

 more easily than in any other human Cestoidea. 



Therapeutics. — For the present, as is evident for the reasons 

 just given, there is no means of prevention (prophylaxis). But 

 we may recommend in our neighbourhoods, that all passed 

 or expelled fragments of this worm should be burnt or preserved 

 in spirits, so as to destroy their embryos. 



Direct Therapeutics. — See the methods of treatment for Tanice. 

 In this case, the ordinary treatment with Filix mas is sufficient, 

 and certainly that with extract of pomegranate root. 



Literature . — Besides the bibliography on Cestoidea to be given 

 at the close of the book, consult especially the work of Eschricht, 

 and that of Van Beneden, " Sur le developpement des vers 

 Cestoides." 



