224 



ENTOZOA. 



of a lady, aged thirty-seven, who had convulsions attended with 

 complete loss of consciousness, the separate fits lasting an hour at 

 a time. The passage of the worms effected a complete cure. In 

 the same journal for 1838, there is also the case of a younger 

 lady (aged twenty-seven) suffering from epilepsy, in whom a 

 complete cure had been similarly brought about ; here, however, 

 in addition to a single specimen of the Tmnia soliimi, there were 

 two lumbrici present. This journal also gives EttmuUer's case, 

 where eighteen tapeworms were the cause of hysteria ; and like- 

 wise the case published by Steinbeck, where the symptoms pre- 

 sented an altogether peculiar character. More precise references 

 to the above, and other instances, will be found in the " Biblio- 

 graphy" of this work, under the author's names. 



Distressing as some of the above-described phenomena are, 

 the injurious effects they produce are as nothing compared 

 with the calamities which follow the deposition and growth of 

 the tapeworm larvae within our bodies, at least, when these 

 so-called Cysticerci take up their abode in our more important 

 vital organs. Fortunately, this latter contingency is of com- 

 paratively rare occurrence, and yet it is probable that at least 

 one hundred cases have come to light, where the Gysticercus 

 cellulosce has caused death by its development within the human 

 brain. Griesinger alone has collected between fifty and sixty such 

 cases, two of which came under his own observation. From a 

 minute analysis of these cases he has attempted to establish a 

 series of diagnostic signs by which the presence of Gysticercus in 

 the brain may be recognized. Even should he have succeeded ia 

 this respect, one is at a loss to comprehend how any curative 

 result could accrue from the formation of a correct diagnosis. It 

 is a step, however, in the right direction ; and we gather fi?om his 

 accurate observations (for reference see " Bibliography") that in 

 some instances the symptoms may be obscure or altogether wanting. 

 In a second set of cases, epilepsy exists without mental disturbance. 

 In a third set epilepsy is accompanied with true maniacal symp- 



