The TAENIA SOLIUM and TAENIA SAGINATA are white, articulated, flattened, vary in length from a few feet to many years, have their habitat in the small intestines, segment of the taenia be left in the bowel it will become a perfect worm; but this is not the case. The worm grows by formation of new segments below the head,. so-called, which is fixed tot he wall of the intestine, Unless this ‘head is killed by treatment and expelled,. the worm will grow again. If the articulation be fully developed, and finds a suitable nidus, the germs will escape, but must pass through physiological changes in an intermediate host before they can become perfect worms. The symptoms produced by the presence of a tape-worm are not often well-marked, and it is usually unsuspected till joints are passed in the evacuations;l frequently, however, there are sensations of weight, or gnawing in. the abdomen, often with enlargement about the navel. The appetite is usually excessive, but at the same time the nutritive functions are so imperfect that there is considerable and progressive wasting. There is often itching of the nose and anus, lassitude, and sometimes cramps in the extremities.
GENERAL SYMPTOMS-The existence of worms is usually preceded and accompanied by an unhealthy condition of he mucous lining of the intestines, in which a large quantity of tenacious slimy mucus is secreted, which interferes with the various processes concerned in digestion, and at the same time forms a suitable nest for intestinal worms, in which they develop rapidly in proportion to the quantity of mucus both for their nidus and nourishment. The clear recognition of his fact is of great importance, for when the alimentary canal is brought into a healthy condition, there is not home for worms, nd they soon cease to infest the patient.
This condition of the intestinal canal is associated with a coated tongue, varying in degree according to the extent of mucous secreted, with remarkable distinctness of the fungiform papillae at the sides of the dorsum, These papillae are seen as large, round, or, more commonly, oval spots, seldom elevated, and varying in colour from pale red to deep crimson, the depth of colour being in proportion to the degree of irritability of the digestive organs. If vomiting and diarrhoea supervene, their colour becomes bright red, and they then protect slight above the surface peering through the thick coating of yellow fur with which the dorsum in such cases is usually covered. Although the appearance of the tongue thus described is not diagnostic of worms, yet it indicates a condition of the digestive when it is noticed, worms should always be inquired for. when the tongue is seen to have a slightly slimy took, especially both the centre, to be covered with a thin coating of grayish transparent fur, and to have the fungiform papillae at the sides-large, oval, not elevated and pinkish red, and usually distinct-worms are seldom absent (Dr. Eustace Smith). A particular kind of white blood corpuscle (Eosinophile) increases when worms are present.
As a result of this condition of the alimentary canal, the function of nutrition becomes impaired, and the patient loses flesh, while the abdomen becomes hard and with a leaden-coloured semi-circle under the eyelids; the pupils are dilated; there is itching of the nose and anus, and occasionally tenesmus.;the bowels may be attacks of Diarrhoea, with great straining the mentions being dark, slimy, and offensive the breath is sometimes dribbling of saliva during sleep. The appetite is capricious, often ravenous, and sometimes the child refuses food altogether. Discharges of mucus are not infrequent from he rectum, and also in girls from the vagina. Sometimes the urine is passed with difficulty or pain, the urine being usually whitish or milky.
Other disordered condition, of a nervous character, are restlessness starting during sleep grinding of the teeth, a dry short, irritative or spasmodic Cough, sighing, Hiccough and in children of a refined nervous temperament, Convulsions.
The only certain proof of the presence of worms is the detection of the creatures themselves or their ova, in the stool or matters vomited. Even when thus known to exist, the symptoms for which advice is an injection of purgative will expel the parasites, but the symptoms will still persist.
CAUSES-Our knowledge of the modes operandi by which these parasites get access to the intestinal canal is a yet imperfect. The Oxyuris effects an entrance into the human body with vegetable food or water whilst in an immature condition Unfiltered, impure water is no doubt the medium by which the Ascaris lumbricoides is introduced. Eating imperfectly-washed vegetables raw of undercooked meat, etc. Flesh infected with the cysticercus., which is the intermediate stage of the tape- worm is the ordinary source from which the TAENIA are derived. Pigs are very liable to be so affected.
The predisposing condition which favours the development of worms, already noticed, is the secretion, in great abundance, of intestinal mucus, causing fermentation of food and imperfect digestion and assimilation,.
WORMS INFECTIOUS-Thread worms often migrate from the rectum into the vagina of little girls, preferring the night for this purpose; they may ever migrate from the child affected to others sleeping in the same bed. The female worm is the greatest traveler, and one pregnant worm, escaping from its pale of development into another intestinal canal, is capable of infecting it. In this manner worms are infectious, and an entire family, where parents and children occupy the same bed, as they too often do among the poorer classes, become infested with oxyuri.
TREATMENT-This does not involve simply the expulsion for the parasites from the body, but the correction of the abnormal state of the digestive canal, and the destruction o the nidus in which they live and multiply. when oxyuri are very numerous and troublesome, and their immediate removal is desirable, we recommenced simple injections as follows-
INJECTIONS-These are useful as means for expelling thread-worms, as they inhabit the rectum and sigmoid flexure; half-a-pint of water, in which five or six drops of oil of turpentine, or of Eau-de-Cologne, have been dissolved, once or twice repeated, will generally suffice. The injection should be administered in the evening t bedtime, and when the bowel is empty, so that the injection may find ready access to the various ramifications of he bowel where the parasites hide. Afterwards, a simple cold or tepid injection should be used regularly to or three times a week of r one or two months, to wash away the slime and mucus in which the ova exist. But the medicinal and general treatment can only be relied upon for improving the health and preventing their re- formation. Garlic (not onion) injection of the cold infusion of quassia chips. Sweat oil is a less disagreeable injection, and often rids the patient of the worms in about ten days.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT-
I. As Anthelmintics-Conium, Cup-Ac., Filix Mas, teta. Teuc.teta. Urt.-U., Sant. I,. Kousso,. Infusion of Pomegranate rind. Pumpkin seed.
2. For constitutional conditions commonly associated with worms- Arsenicum, Calc-C., sulph., Silicea, Mercurius
3. Occasional Remedies-Aconite (feverishness and restlessness); Belladonna (flushed face, nervous irritability), convulsions); Nux V., china., Pulsatilla (Indigestion) Ignatia (nervous depression).
LEADING INDICATIONS.-
Cina-A valuable remedy for the conditions which favours the development of thread-worms, or roundworms or even tape-worms, with the following symptoms; boring a the nose, livid semi- circles under the eyes, tossing about, or calling out suddenly during sleep, Epilepsy or Convulsions, nausea and vomiting, griping, itching at nose and anus, and white, thick urine, sometimes passed involuntarily. Spigelia often acts better for similar symptoms.
Santonine-Is confessedly a genuine specific for all the alter kinds of parasites.,
Mercurius Cor-This remedy is indicated more by the character of he evacuations than by the presence of parasites., the notions re whites or greenish, pappy, and sometimes bloody, often attended by tenesmus; thee may be also distention of of the abdomen, foetid, breath, excessive quantity of saliva, difficult teething, restlessness at light, etc.
Ignatia-Suitable for mild, sensitive children, troubled with excessive itching if the anus; Prolapsus of the anus; Prolapsus Ani, nervousness, depression, epileptiform attacks etc.
Teucrium-Thread-worms with much irritation in the rectum, irritability of the nervous system, m sleeplessness, Vertigo etc. it is especially efficacious in adults.
Filix Mas-This remedy is chiefly employed against the tape- worm,. the patient should fast for eight hours of take a good purgative three hours before the nose, which should consist of t 60 or 70 minims. Give the dose at bedtime, and another purgative in. the morning, and when the worm is passed seek carefully for the ‘head, which is minute and easily off looked.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."