CARBON TETRACHLORID FOR THE REMOVAL OF 
PARASITIC WORMS, ESPECIALLY HOOKWORMS 
By Maurice C. Hall 
Senior Zoologist , Bureau of Animal Industry , United States Department of Agriculture 
Experiments carried on in the Zoological Division of the Bureau of 
Animal Industry indicate that carbon tetrachlorid (CC1 4 ) is a very prom¬ 
ising drug for the treatment of hookworm infestation in dogs. The 
experimental results are therefore presented in this paper, primarily to 
bring the drug to the attention of veterinarians for use in cases of canine 
ancylostomiasis, and secondarily to make the results public for consid¬ 
eration in connection with ancylostomiasis in man and in domesticated 
animals other than the dog. The paper includes a consideration of the 
efficacy of the drug, a study of its effect on dogs ante mortem and post 
mortem, and a r£sum6 of some of the more readily available literature 
on carbon tetrachlorid, especially those papers dealing with the thera¬ 
peutics of this drug. 
MEDICAL LITERATURE 
The United States Dispensatory, 1 nineteenth edition, issued in 1907, 
states in regard to carbon tetrachlorid that it was discovered by Regnault 
in 1839. Carbon tetrachlorid may be made from carbon bisulphid (CS 2 ) 
or from chloroform (CHC1 3 ) by chlorination. It is a solvent of fats, 
alkaloids, rubber, sulphur, etc., and is used as a fire extinguisher. 
Tuson ( 21 ) in 1843 reported carbon tetrachlorid as of value when 
applied externally to cancers in a lotion composed of 1 dram of carbon 
tetrachlorid to 1 pint of water, and given internally in doses of 1 to 3 drops 
in water three times a day. The cancer ultimately sloughed away, 
leaving healthy tissue. Carbon tetrachlorid was of value in other similar 
cases and also in nervous irritability and allied conditions. 
Ure (22) in 1843, following Tuson’s directions, used carbon tetrachlo¬ 
rid by application to a cancer of the tongue, to an erosive ulceration of 
the throat, and to a cancer of the leg without benefit in any case. 
Blanch (2) in 1843 reported that 4 drops of carbon tetrachlorid three 
times a day gave good results in gout. In a patient with severe neuralgic 
pain and with pronounced aversion to drugs, 1 tablespoonful of a prep¬ 
aration containing 6 ounces of water and 1 dram of carbon tetrachlorid 
gave relief following the first dose and complete relief after the third or 
fourth. In a case of diarrhea, procidentia uteri, prolapsus ani, hysterical 
and fainting fits, and insomnia, carbon tetrachlorid by mouth relieved 
the symptoms and enabled the patient to sleep. 
1 Wood, Geo. B., and Bachs, Franklin, the dispensatory op the united states op America. 
Ed. 19. . . lxii, 1,947 P* Philadelphia, [1907]. 
Journal of Agricultural Research, 
Washington, D. C, 
zi 
(157) 
Vol. XXI. No. a 
Apr. 15, 1921 
Key No. A-58 
