165 
PATHOLOGY. 
have been known to excite apoplexy in the brain, and 
nephritis, when fituated in the bladder ; in which cafe, 
Piodueunt uliqunndo eredlionem molejiam penis. 
Itching of the nofe, and dilatation of the pupil, are 
faid to be the lead equivocal lign of worms. 
Upon the whole, we may fufpedt the prelence of worms 
where irregular appetite and great difturbance of the 
nervous fyltem are prefent, without any other marked 
caufe of irritation, and unattended with alteration in the 
circulating powers. The irregularity and the complete 
remiflion of certain pains, and the deranged fecretion of 
the bowels, will further aflift the diagnolis. It is a good 
rule, however, in all anomalous and rare difeafes, to en¬ 
quire whether the patient has, or has had, any fymptoms 
of worms, fince even intermiffions of the pulfe, palpita¬ 
tions of the heart, fyncope, vertigo, lofs of fpeech, 
blindnefs, buzzing in the ears, mental dejedlion, reftlefs 
fieep, hiccup, convulfions, epilepfy, and many other dif¬ 
eafes, may be produced by thefe animals. 
. The treatment of worms comprifes their expulfion in the 
firft place, and fecondly the prevention of their regene¬ 
ration. For the former purpofe, a numerous holt of 
drugs have been recommended by various authors. 
We fhall infert, from Prof. Brera, a catalogue raifonee 
of the molt approved anthelmintics. 
Allium fativum, or garlic, Iras been proved by Rofen- 
Itein and Tiffot to be capable of expelling worms, efpe- 
cially the taenia. 
Artemifia fantonica, or worm-feed, is well known to 
have confiderable power over the lumbricoides particu¬ 
larly. The dofeis from two grains to a drachm. 
Afclepias Curaffavica, or Curagoa fwallow-wort, (the 
Apocynum eredlum, folio oblongo, &c. of Sloane,) from 
its emetic quality called baftard or wild ipecacuanha, 
and by the negroes red-head , is a powerful vermifuge. 
See vol. ii. p. 256. 
The bark of the baftard cabbage-tree (Geoffrea iner- 
mis) Hands, according to Mr. Chamberlaine, among the 
firft in the lift of powerful vermifuges;, (fee vol. viii. p. 
339, 40.) but even this, after an extenfive trial, was 
given up by that gentleman on account of its uncer¬ 
tainty. 
Jalap, probably from its difagreeable fmell and nau- 
feous tafte, is a ufeful auxiliary, at leaft, to other anthel¬ 
mintics. 
Affafcetida has been often ufefully employed in feveral 
difeafes refulting from worms, particularly in the fpaf- 
modic clafs. It is fometimes combined with other medi¬ 
cines, as myrrh, the black oxyde of iron, calomel, &c. 
Affafcetida enemata are ufeful in the afcarides. 
Oil, as clofing all the fpiracula of worms, is very ini¬ 
mical to thefe animals. The oil of walnuts has been 
particularly extolled ; but Mr. Chamberlaine afferts that 
taenia will live for many hours in oil. 
Camphor. Pringle long ago demonftrated the anthel¬ 
mintic powers of camphor. The celebrated Mofchati 
generally prefers it to other vermifuges. Half a drachm 
is diffolved in a pint of water; to which a drachm of gum 
arabic is added, and this mixture is given in fpoonfuls ; 
or injections of ftronger folutions than the above are 
thrown up. The employment of camphor is alfo atten¬ 
ded with this advantage, that it counteracts the predif- 
pofition to the further development of verminous feeds. 
Tanacetum vulgare, the common tanly, has been long 
celebrated. Aloes, rhubarb, the gratiola officinalis, 
gamboge,_ chamomile, fulphuretted fcammony, and 
other fimilar articles, are alfo remedies commonly ufed 
for the expulfion of worms. They are not fpoken of 
lingly, becaufe thefe draftics are ufually combined with 
other vermifuge remedies, vegetable or mineral. 
Murias ammonias, combined with rhubarb or jalap, 
is confidered by Block as a very efficacious vermifuge. 
Iron, in conl'equence perhaps of its tonic powers, is a 
well-afcertained anthelmintic, tending both to deftroy 
worms, and prevent their fubfequent generation. The 
fulphate of iron is confidered to be the beft preparation, 
as poffefiing the greateft aftringent force, and being pow¬ 
erful in moderating exceflive fecretion of mucus in the 
bowels. To children, profeffor Brera gives it in dofes 
of from two to ten grains ; and to adults, in dofes of 
half a drachm to a drachm. Thefe are large dofes. Its 
virtues are much enhanced by conjunction with cin¬ 
chona, valerian, jalap, affafcetida, See. 
Mercury can have nofpecific effedt againft worms,-fince 
the labourers in the quickfilver-mines of Almada, in 
Spain, are peculiarly fubjedl to worms, though thefe people 
abforbfuch enormous quantities of that mineral, that glo¬ 
bules of mercury areevacuated with the ftools. Thel'ame 
thing happens in the mines of Lydria, and in the labo¬ 
ratories of Chemnitz in Hungary. Befides this, Rofen- 
ftein has adminiftered mercury in feveral cafes, even to 
falivation, wdthout being able to expel a fingle worm. 
Brera fays, however, that mercury, given in the ftate of 
oxyde, adts on the folids as a pow’ertul ftimulant, fince 
by its ufe the pulfe acquires great force, and the fecre- 
tions and excretions are augmented. In this way feve¬ 
ral of the oxydes of mercury have been very efficient in 
expelling worms, and in curing verminous affedlions. 
Among thefe, the fubmuriateof mercury is to be preferred. 
Ptyalifm fhould never be produced in thefe cafes. 
Petroleum is famous at Montpellier againft worms. 
Rofenftein, many years ago, related the cafe of a man 
who was delivered of a taenia by a dofe of petroleum and 
oil of turpentine. 
Tin has been confidered vermifuge ever fince the days 
of Paracelfus. But, as profeffor Brera properly obferves, 
this method is objedlionable on account of the danger of 
lead or arfenic being mixed with the tin. He himfelf 
faw the Colica pidlonum, and paralyfis of the lower ex¬ 
tremities, produced by taking the filings of tin. 
Towards the middle of the laft century, Madame 
Nouffer’s remedy againft taenia excited confiderable at¬ 
tention. The medicine was three drachms of the root 
of the male fern (Polypodium felix mas) in powder, 
mixed with four or fix ounces of the diftilled water of 
male fern, or lime-tree flowers, taken in the morning. 
The_dofe, of courfe, was graduated for children. Two 
hours after taking the powder, the patient is to fwallow 
the following bolus : Take of calomel, and dry refin of 
Aleppo fcammony, of each twelve grains; of gamboge 
five grains ; form into a bolus with hyacinth confedlion. 
This, by the way, was a tolerably good vermifuge of it- 
felf, and doubtlefs contributed as much towards Mad. 
Nouffer’s fuccefs as the fern-powder. 
Dr. Bourdies, of Paris, has adminiftered the following 
remedy with great fuccefs in both fpecies of taenia : Pour 
a drachm of fulphuric ether into a glafs of the decodiion 
of male fern, which the patient is to take falling; four 
or five minutes after, an injedlion of the fame decodiion, 
with two drachms of ether, is to be thrown up. One hour 
after, give two ounces of oleum ricini, and one ounce of 
the fyrup of peach-bloffoms. This treatment is to be 
continued for three days. The worm is commonly dif- 
charged but half organized. When the worm is in the 
ftomach, fuccefs is certain; when in the inteftines, the 
treatment, after fome time, is repeated; then Dr. Bour- 
dier preferibes an enema of decodiion of fern and two 
drachms of fulphuric ether, immediately after the pa¬ 
tient has fwallowed the etherated potion. 
The remedy of the celebrated odier was no other than 
caftor-oil. It both kills the worms and expels them. 
Adults fhould take three ounces of the oil, and children 
a tea-fpoonful, feveral times a-day. Lelle advifes that 
the oil be taken at bed-time, and ten grains of gamboge 
the next morning. 
Dr. Coffin has known Fowler’s folution deftroy the 
taenia in feveral cafes. Dr. Filher, of Maffachufetts, alfo 
obferves, that the taenia may be deftroyed by Fowler’s 
folution. 
