Thread-worms are from a third to half an inch in length, white and thread-like, moving rapidly. They inhabit the rectum chiefly, often in very large numbers, and cause great irritation.
The round-worm is from six to fifteen inches long, similar to the common earth-worm, but paler and thinner. It lives generally in the small intestines; but is sometimes padded upwards into the stomach and expelled by vomiting, or downwards, and ejected with the evacuations. It often exists in couples.
The tape-worms is white, flat, and joined, varying in length from a few feet to several yards. It generally exists alone.
SYMPTOMS.- Thread-worms give rise to itching and irritation about the anus, especially troublesome in the evening; impaired or capricious appetite, offensive breath, picking at the nose, grinding of the teeth, straining at stool, falling of the bowel, Pruritus vulvae, disturbed sleep, general restlessness, and irritability.
When round-worms exist in large numbers and get tangled up in a ball, there may be in addition to the above symptoms, signs of intestinal obstruction, intermittent Diarrhoea, Convulsions, Chorea, etc. The round-worm may be dangerous from its habit of migrating. It may get into the larynx and cause fatal asphyxia.
The symptoms of Tape-worm are less marked; sensations of weight or gnawing in the abdomen; great appetite, and sometimes nausea and Diarrhoea.
Worms are frequently not suspected till seen in the evacuations.
CAUSES.- The predisposing cause of worms is an unhealthy, slimy condition of the intestines of infants and young children, from improper feeding. When the conditions are favourable for the development of worms, their germs or eggs, conveyed into the system by drinking impure water, by eating imperfectly-washed vegetables, or underdone meat, find a nest in which to grow and multiply.
TREATMENT.- Where thread – or round-worms exist, Cina will usually be found an effective medicine. The tape-worm will require the oil of the male fern, sometimes in large doses, for its expulsion.
INDICATIONS FOR THE SEVERAL REMEDIES.
Ant.-Crud.- White tongue, white mucous Diarrhoea.
Cina.- Boring at the nose; livid semicircles under the eyes; tossing about or suddenly crying out in sleep; nausea, and Vomiting; griping, itching at the anus; white, thick urine; Epilepsy, Convulsions, or other nervous disorders.
Male Fern Oil.- One of the most useful and reliable remedies in Tape-worm.
Mercurius Sol.6.- Whitish, greenish, pappy, or bloody evacuations, with tenesmus; distention of the abdomen, foetid breath; great flow of saliva; restlessness at night.
Sulphur.- Worm-colic, Constipation; and to complete the cure.
Santonin 3x.- Is good both for thread-and round-worms.
Urtica Urens.- Excessive itching of the anus, especially at night, from thread-worms.
ADDITIONAL REMEDIES.- Arsenicum, Calcarea carb., Ignat., Pulsatilla, santon., Teucrium.
ACCESSORIES.- When there is much irritation, a small injection of warm salt-and-water (a tablespoonful to half-a-pint) or an infusion of quassia may be used at bedtime, for several days. The application of a weak mercurial ointment to the anus at night relieves itching and prevents the worms from wandering. Hutchison recommends that the child should wear sleeping garments so constructed as to make access of the fingers to the anus impossible. F.H. Lorentz states that the thread-worm develops from ova only in the anal canal and that in his experience thorough washing of the anal region after every stool has been followed by excellent results.
For round-worm Santonin should be given after the bowel has been thoroughly emptied.
For tape-worm it is best to keep the child in bed for two or three days on a very light, readily assimilable diet (milk, eggs, broth), the bowels being thoroughly emptied. A dose of purgative having been given the night before, give male fern (filix Mas) in capsules containing 15 grains every quarter of an hour for four doses. An hour later give half an ounce of mist. sennae co. The resulting motions should be passed into water, shaken up and filtered through black muslin, a search being made for the head, which is elongated and tapering, “a thin white filament about the size of a large pin.” As long as the head cannot be found, there is liability to recurrence, but treatment should not be repeated for two months.
71. Constipation.
CAUSES.- Constipation in infants is almost invariably due to improper feeding, particularly to too early use of starchy kinds of food, which may occasion great mischief; irregularities of diet in the mother of the suckling infant; purgatives, etc.
In may also be a symptom attendant on fever, disease of the liver or brain, etc., and will then disappear with the derangement of which it depends, without special treatment.
SYMPTOMS.- Headache, feverishness, languor, irritability, restlessness, loss of appetite, distention of the abdomen, furred tongue, colic, frequent but inefficient urging to relieve the bowel, or the inclination may be altogether absent; disturbed sleep, etc. Vomiting is occasionally a symptom of obstinate Constipation. Remote results are Hernia and Prolapse of the Rectum.
TREATMENT.- Bryonia, Nux Vomica, and Sulphur are the medicines which are most useful in Constipation. in all cases it is well to commence with Sulphur. A dose night and morning of the medicine will usually be sufficient.
INDICATIONS FOR THE SEVERAL REMEDIES.
Bryonia.- Large motions passed with difficulty; irritability; headache; brown tongue.
Lycopodium.- Is especially useful when there is much flatulence in the lower bowel.
Mercurius Sol.- Sallow skin, the white-of-the-eyes being yellowish; profuse secretion of saliva; pale, whitish motions.
Nux Vomica.- Frequent ineffectual urging, restless sleep, irritability.
Opium.- Torpid bowels; hard and lumpy motions; headache, drowsiness, dizziness; retention of urine.
Plumbum.- Obstinate cases; dark motions, consisting of small balls.
Podophyllum.- Pale or clay-coloured evacuations, mottled with green; Constipation following Diarrhoea; Prolapsus ani; sallow skin; restless sleep.
Sulphur.- Painful distention of the abdomen; habitual costiveness.
ACCESSORY MEANS.- The diet in infants should be regulated according to directions in Sections 11 and 12. Olive-oil and manna are often useful for infants – also malt extract and refined liquid paraffin. These may also be given to older children. By These last fresh vegetables – cabbage, turnips, onions – ripe fruit, oatmeal-porridge with treacle, and brown bread may be taken freely. A draught of water, especially on rising and retiring, is also advisable. Frictions with the warm hand or with olive-oil over the back and abdomen are often effectual in affording relief, and are applicable equally to infants and older children.
Children should early be habituated to solicit the action of the bowels every morning with regularity. Purgatives are to be strictly avoided. Regular exercise should be taken – also exercises designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles.
72. Jaundice (Icterus).
DEFINITION.- A disease due to derangement of the liver characterized by yellowness of may of the tissues of the body, especially the white-of-the-eyes and the finger-nails.
SYMPTOMS.- Yellow tinge, first of the white-of-the-eyes, then of the roots of the nails, next the face and neck, and finally the trunk and extremities. The urine becomes a deep orange or even mahogany colour, and strains the linen; the faeces pale yellow; there is Constipation or Diarrhoea; lassitude; anxiety; discomfort in liver region; bitter taste; and moderate fever. Often the bowels are relaxed from the food not being properly digested and occasioning irritation. There are also, usually, depression of spirits, prostration of strength and slowness of the pulse.
CAUSES.- Chill, exposure, errors of diet, and emotional storms. (Icterus neonatorum or “jaundice of the newly-born” is not uncommon, coming on about the second or third day and lasting a few days. Its cause is not certain, and it is hardly to be considered a disease.
TREATMENT.- In a large number of cases, mercurius will meet every requirement, and unless some other medicine is very clearly indicated it should be given every three hours.
INDICATIONS FOR SEVERAL REMEDIES
Aconitum.- Jaundice from fright or cold; febrile heat; much pain below the ribs.
Chamomilla.- Jaundice caused by fits of passion.
China.- From indigestible substances, over-exertion, cold, when the disease assumes an intermittent character and when large doses of mercury have been given.
Mercurius Sol.3x.- One of the most useful medicines, when the patient has not been subjected to mercury under allopathic treatment.
Nux Vomica.- Pain in the region of the liver; Costiveness; sickness.
Chronic cases may require Chelid., Digitalis, Hydras., Min.-Ac., Phosphorus, or Podoph.
ACCESSORY MEANS.- Flannels wrung out of the hot water, applied to the region of the liver, are good. Daily out-of-door exercise, regulation of the diet, and protection from atmospheric changes, are excellent preventives.
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."