R. P. CoCKIN 
63 
(1) With regard to the removal of the parasites I have had ex¬ 
perience of four methods of treatment; only one of which I consider to 
be quite satisfactory. 
In testing the drugs at my disposal I took three series of fifty cases 
each; the members of the first series were treated with thymol, those 
of the second with eucalyptus oil, castor oil and chloroform, and of the 
third with beta naphthol. In consequence of the excellent results 
obtained with this latter drug a fourth series with male fern was not 
completed ; since in eleven cases, in the treatment of which this drug 
was used, recourse to one of the other three had to be made in order to 
complete the expulsion of the parasites. The results obtained from 
these three series of cases varied greatly and the deductions drawn 
from them are briefly as follows ; 
(a) Thymol. This drug if given in full doses of thirty grains is 
dangerous, if in smaller doses it is not effective, for when given to a 
fully developed man in twenty grain doses, it occasionally took as long as 
a month to rid him of the parasites. It not unfrequently happened that 
even when the parasites had ceased to appear in the motions the ova 
were found upon microscopical examination of the stool. My ex¬ 
perience of this drug teaches me that it is very dangerous in cases of 
cardiac degeneration, and I do not think that it should be used in any 
case where this condition is found to exist to any degree. For this 
reason I consider that the method of free distribution of thymol, 
adopted by the Porto Rico Commissioners, is very dangerous; since, 
from my work in Grenada, I know that a large percentage of these 
cases must be suffering from dilatation of the heart in varying degrees, 
and the carelessness of the West Indian native in attending to instruc¬ 
tions is proverbial. 
(h) Eucalyptus Oil, Castor Oil and Chloroform. This series of 
cases was the most disappointing of the thiee, and in thirty-eight cases 
of the series it was necessary to administer either beta naphthol or 
thymol to complete the removal of the worms. No ill effects were 
noted as attending its use. 
(c) Beta Naphthol. The results obtained from the cases in this 
series were most satisfactory, and convinced me of the superiority of this 
drug. As I have continued its use upon all subsequent cases of the 
disease I have had ample opportunities of confirming the opinion which 
was then formed with regard to it. The points in favour of beta 
naphthol are its rapid and complete expulsion of the parasites, the 
absence of danger attending its use and the relatively small cost. It 
