Volume Ii Part 4 (1/2)
Capelle. Transactions of the college at Philadelphia, v. i.
Now as the dilute state of the bile depends on the deficiency of the absorption of its thinner parts, it appears, that the tumid belly, and bloated countenance, and swelled upper lip, are a concomitant circ.u.mstance attending the general inactivity of the absorbent system; which is therefore to be esteemed the remote cause of the generation of worms.
The simplicity of the structure of worms probably enables them to exist in more various temperatures of heat; and their being endued with life prevents them from being destroyed by digestion in the stomach, probably in the same manner as the powers of life prevent the fermentation and putrefaction of the stomach itself. Hence I conclude, that worms are originally taken into our alimentary ca.n.a.l from without; as I believe similar worms of all kinds are to be found out of the body.
M. M. The round worm is destroyed by a cathartic with four or six grains of calomel; and afterwards by giving six or eight grains of filings of iron twice a day for a fortnight. See Hepatis tumor, Cla.s.s I. 2. 3. 9. As worms are liable to come away in fevers, whether of the hectic or putrid kind, could they be removed by purulent matter, or rotten egg, or putrid flesh, since in those fevers from the enfeebled action of the intestines the faeces become highly putrid?
11. _Taenia._ Tape-worm consists of a chain of animals extending from the stomach to the a.n.u.s. See Sect. x.x.xIX. 2. 3. It frequently exists in cats, rats, and geese, and probably in many other animals.
The worms of this genus possess a wonderful power of retaining life. Two of them, which were voided by a pointer dog in consequence of violent purgatives, each of which were several feet in length, had boiling water poured on them in a bason; which seemed not much to inconvenience them.
When the water was cool, they were taken out and put into gin or whiskey of the strongest kind, in which their life and activity continued unimpaired; and they were at length killed by adding to the spirit a quant.i.ty of corrosive sublimate. Medic. Comment. for 1791, p. 370.
The tape-worm is cured by an amalgama of tin and quicksilver, such as is used on the back of looking-gla.s.ses; an ounce should be taken every two hours, till a pound is taken; and then a brisk cathartic of Glauber's salt two ounces, and common salts one ounce, dissolved in two wine pints of water, half a pint to be taken every hour till it purges. The worm extends from the stomach to the a.n.u.s, and the amalgama tears it from the intestine by mechanical pressure, acting upon it the whole way. Electric shocks through the duodenum greatly a.s.sists the operation. Large doses of tin in powder. Iron filings in large doses. The powder of fern-root seems to be of no use, as recommended by M. Noufflier.
12. _Ascarides._ Thread-worms. These worms are said to be more frequent in some parts of this kingdom than in others, as near the fens of Lincolns.h.i.+re. Do they escape from the body and become flies, like the bott-worm in horses? Do they crawl from one child to another in the same bed? Are they acquired from flies or worms, which are seen in putrid necessary houses, as these worms as well as the tapeworms, are probably acquired from without? this may account for their re-appearance a few weeks or months after they have been destroyed; or can this happen from the eggs or parts of them remaining?
Ascarides appear to be of two kinds, the common small ones like a thread; which has a very sharp head, as appears in the microscope; and which is so tender, that the cold air soon renders it motionless; and a larger kind above an inch long, and nearly as thick as a very small crow-quill, and which is very hard in respect to its texture, and very tenacious of life.
One of these last was brought to me, and was immediately immersed in a strong solution of sugar of lead, and lived in it a very long time without apparent inconvenience.
M. M. Ascarides are said to be weakened by twenty grains of cinnabar and five of rhubarb taken every night, but not to be cured by this process. As these worms are found only in the r.e.c.t.u.m, variety of clysters have been recommended. I was informed of a case, where solutions of mercurial ointment were used as a clyster every night for a month without success.
Clysters of Harrowgate water are recomended, either of the natural, or of the fact.i.tious, as described below, which might have a greater proportion of liver of sulphur in it. As the cold air soon destroys them, after they are voided, could clysters of iced water be used with advantage? or of spirit of wine and water? or of ether and water? Might not a piece of candle, about an inch long, or two such pieces, smeared with mercurial ointment, and introduced into the a.n.u.s at night, or twice a day, be effectual by compressing their nidus, as well as by the poison of the mercury.
The clysters should be large in quant.i.ty, that they may pa.s.s high in the r.e.c.t.u.m, as two drams of tobacco boiled a minute in a pint of water. Or perhaps what might be still more efficacious and less inconvenient, the smoke of tobacco injected by a proper apparatus every night, or alternate nights, for six or eight weeks. This was long since recommended, I think by Mr. Turner of Liverpool; and the reason it has not succeeded, I believe to have been owing to the imperfections of the joints of the common apparatus for injecting the smoke of tobacco, so that it did not pa.s.s into the intestine, though it was supposed to do so, as I once observed. The smoke should be received from the apparatus into a large bladder; and it may then be certainly injected like the common clyster with sufficient force; otherwise oiled leathers should be nicely put round the joints of the machine; and a wet cloth round the injecting pipe to prevent the return of the smoke by the sides of it. Clysters of carbonated hydrogen gas, or of other fact.i.tious airs, might be tried.
Harrowgate water taken into the stomach, so as to induce six or seven stools every morning, for four or six weeks, is perhaps the most efficacious method in common use. A fact.i.tious Harrowgate water may be made probably of greater efficacy than the natural, by dissolving one ounce of marine salt, (called bay salt) and half an ounce of magnesia Glauber's salt, (called Epsom salt, or bitter purging salt) in twenty-eight ounces of water. A quarter or half a pint of this is to be taken every hour, or two hours in the morning, till it operates, with a tea-spoonful of a solution of liver of sulphur, which is to be made by putting an ounce of hepar sulphuris into half a pint of water. See Cla.s.s IV. 1. 2. 9.
13. _Dracunculus._ A thin worm brought from the coast of Guinea. It is found in the interstices of the muscles, and is many yards long; it makes a small ulcer; which is cured by extracting an inch of the worm a day, and wrapping the extracted part slowly round a bit of tobacco pipe till next day, so as not to break it. I have twice seen long worms, like a thick horse-hair, in water in July in this country, which appeared hard and jointed.
14. _Morpiones._ Crab-lice. The excrement of this animal stains the linen, and appears like diluted blood.
M. M. Spirit of wine. Mercurial ointment, shaving the part. Oil destroys other insects, if they be quite covered with it, as the ticks on dogs, and would probably therefore destroy these. Its manner of operation is by stopping up or filling their spiracula, or breathing pores; a few drops of oil poured on a wasp, so as to cover it, destroys it in a few seconds.
15. _Pediculi._ Lice. There is said to be a disease, in which these animals are propagated in indestructible numbers, so as to destroy the patient.
M. M. Cleanliness, mercurial ointment, stavis acria in powder, or the tincture of it in spirit of wine. Spirit of wine alone? Bath of oil?
ORDO I.
_Increased Irritation._
GENUS V.
_With Increased Actions of the Organs of Sense._
SPECIES.
1. _Visus acrior._ Acuter sight. There have been instances of people, who could see better in the gloom of the evening, than in the stronger light of the day; like owls, and bats, and many quadrupeds, and flying insects. When the eye is inflamed, great light becomes eminently painful, owing to the increased irritative motions of the retina, and the consequent increased sensation. Thus when the eye is dazzled with sudden light, the pain is not owing to the motion of the iris; for it is the contraction of the iris, which relieves the pain from sudden light; but to the too violent contractions of the moving fibres, which const.i.tute the extremities of the optic nerve.
2. _Auditus acrior._ The irritative ideas of hearing are so increased in energy as to excite our attention. This happens in some diseases of the epileptic kind, and in some fevers. Hence the whispering of the currents of air in a room, the respiration of the company, and noises before unperceived, become troublesome; and sounds louder than usual, or unexpected, produce starting, and convulsions.
M. M. Put oil of almonds into the ears. Stop the meatus auditorius with cotton wool. Set the feet of the patient's bed on cus.h.i.+ons, or suspend it by cords from the ceiling.