128 NATURAL HISTOEY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 



cerned, either this cannot be true, or else our salmon enjoy a special 

 and enviable exemption from a parasitic pest that must be very preva- 

 lent in other countries. Again, Kuchenmeister has supported the view 

 that its scolex passes its existence in some low marshy or aquatic ani- 

 mal, and finds admission within our bodies suspended in the water, or 

 adhering to raw vegetables. This is far from improbable, considering 

 the present state of our knowledge of its wide distribution over nume- 

 rous countries where marshes abound. 



The patient from whom the present specimen was procured resided 

 in a healthy district in Ireland, far removed from the sea shore, though 

 close to an extensive lake, in one of our Northern counties. The symp- 

 toms complained of were debility and impaired digestion ; and, though 

 no reason was assigned for the supposition, a conviction was expressed 

 that the damaged state of health depended on " worms." As I 

 thought it possible ascarides might be present, a full dose of santonine 

 was exhibited. This produced its well-known influence on vision — im- 

 parting to surrounding objects a green or yellow tint for a few days — 

 but it failed to expel any worms. The negative result of administer- 

 ing santonine shows that it exercises no power over Bothriocephalus, 

 however potent and reliable it is for destroying Ascaris lumbricoides. 

 Two or three weeks after, a few detached fragments of Tapeworm, con- 

 sisting of adhering joints, were forwarded to me, immersed in spirit. 

 These were so shrivelled and altered in appearance, that it was impos- 

 sible to do more than ascertain their cestoid character, and also that 

 they were quite unlike our ordinary Tapeworms. The patient, at my 

 request, removed to town for treatment ; a brisk aperient was directed, 

 and soft diet continued for twenty-four hours ; after which a full dose 

 of oil of male fern was taken, made into emulsion with yolk of egg, and 

 flavoured by a few drops of essence of peppermint. In the course of 

 three hours the worm was expelled, dead,, and quite perfect. I ob- 

 tained the head of the animal, with fourteen feet of adhering joints. It 

 is needless to say that the recovery was satisfactory. 



The host in this case was born in Ireland, and has always resided 

 here, with a brief interval, about four years since, when at school for 

 six months at a small town in Lincolnshire. It was impossible to as- 

 certain when the worm took up its residence, and the history throws no 

 light on the origin of the parasite. Kuchenmeister' s observation of its 

 preference for lake or marshy districts is supported by the patient's 

 home being near a large lake of fresh water ; and the temporary abode 

 in Lincolnshire was on the borders of a county notorious for its fenny 

 districts. Whether the patient obtained the animal in Ireland, or whilst 

 at school in England, this undoubted example of "Russian" — or, as it 

 is often termed, "Swiss" — Tapeworm, deserves to be considered of indi- 

 genous origin, and therefore " British." Ireland prides itself on being 

 free from Ophidian reptiles : there is less truth in the oft-repeated state- 

 ment that we have no toads ; for a flourishing colony of true natter- 

 jacks reside in a district in Kerry, and I had rather record their exten- 

 sion over half the island in moderate quantity, than establish our claim 



