45 
In July, 1886,- nearly two years later, there was a recurrence of the nervous 
I symptoms. Eggs of J[;/nirnoIepis nuna were found in the feces. E"p till October the 
child suffered Avith severe cerebral troul)les and epileptiform attacks. The eggs were 
still abundant in the feces. Extract of male fern was ‘prescribed. Although the 
' ~ worms were not found in the stools after the treatment, the eggs disappeared from 
the feces, and the attacks ceased. In the latter part of December (Comixi, 1887a, 
p. 61) the attacks again recurred more severe than l)efore, and the eggs likewise had 
reappeared in the feces. Comini ( 1888a) is. rather doubtful as to the etiological 
importance of Hyjnenolepis in this case, in which there was already an apparent 
' congenital predisposition to nervous disease. 
> (\iseXo. 37. — A second case was observed December, 1886, by Comini (1887 a, d, 
' 1888a) at the hospital in Varese. 
The patient, a little girl of 3 years, with a tuberculous mother, had suffered for tAvo 
years with a continual dyspnea, Avithout fever or cough, but often accompanied by 
pains in the abdomen, and functional gastro-intestinal disorders. Eggs of Hymeu- 
I olepi^ n a Avere numerous in the feces (7 to 8 in every preparation). Eggs of Ascarn 
ji Avere also present. 
' ! After anthelminthic treatment the dyspnea became gradually better and disappeared 
I entirely in a feAV days. A year later the child Avas in excellent physical condition, 
I and the feces Avere free from eggs of HymenoJepis. 
; ^ Pavia, Italy, 1886-lSSb 6 cases. 
These 6 cases Avere observed in very complete detail by Senna (1889) at 'the 
• clinic of Professor Orsi, aaJio also published a short paper (Orsi, 1889) in regard to 
! them. 
; Case Xo. (Senn.a's Case 1). — Epileptiform convulsions Avith intestinal helmin- 
thiasis. 
Female, 15 years of age, domestic. Ahvays weak and of a delicate constitution, 
she had suffered for three years from convulsive clonic attacks, Avith foaming at the 
mouth and complete loss of consciousness. These attacks Avere at first fleeting and 
i occurred only at long intervals, but as time Avent on became more frequent and 
. insistent, especially at night. There Avere present also gastric dyspepsia and trouble- 
some abdominal paresthesia, A\dth a sense of constriction in the fauces. Anthelmin- 
tics had been tried AA'ith no apparent result. She had also had at one time a convulsive 
cough Avhich lasted a year, a suppurating keratitis of the right eye, and frequent 
inflammation of the cervical glands. Her father and brother AAere both healthy, 
; but the former, a day laborer, Avas somewhat given to drunkenness. Xeither nerv- 
ous maladies nor pellagra AA'as known in the family; a paternal uncle had died of 
'• consunqition. 
' The patient entered the clinic the last of November, 1886. The convulsive attacks 
continued, occurring almost every night, and rarely in the daytime. Some nights 
the attacks Avere very transitory and passed almost unperceived by the nurse. The 
girl Avas somewhat melancholy, taciturn, and preferred solitude. She Avas, however, 
of good intelligence, and careful physical examination revealed no morbid organic 
conditions of importance. Examination of the feces shoAved numerous eggs of eel- 
Avorms (d.scarfs h( mbrico ides), b. very iew ot hookAvorms {Agchylostoma duodenale), a 
feAV of AA'hipworms ( Tricharis tricJiiara), and of llymenolepis nana. Several eelAvorms 
Avere passed after the administration of santonin, but no tapeAA'orms Avere seen, nor 
Avere any of the latter perceived in the stools after treatment Avith ethereal extract of 
male fern. Some tapeAvorms, hoAA’ever, Avere undoubtedly expelled, since the eggs 
AA’ere no longer to be found in the feces. The patient imi)roved, and left the hospital 
the latter part of December. 
Amelioration lasted only a feAv months; the convulsions came on again, and the 
patient returned to the hospital in April, 1888. As before, she suffered Avith epilepti- 
i 
