_Tape Worms._—These worms may measure many feet in length; and their
presence in the body can only be certainly known by the appearance of
some of the segments or portions of the worm in the motions although
hunger and dyspepsia may be complained of.
_Treatment._—Administer a good aperient overnight so as to empty the
bowels; after the aperient nothing should be given by the mouth for eight
hours, then give sixty to one hundred and twenty drops of the liquid
extract of male fern in one ounce of thin gruel, milk, or gum water, and
follow this up in four hours by a good meal, and an aperient to remove
the worm, which should now be dead.
When the extract of male fern is not available, one tablespoonful of the
oil of turpentine may be used in its place.
If later on fresh segments appear in the motions, then the treatment must
be repeated.
_Round Worm._—The round worm resembles the garden worm and is several
inches in length; it may be observed in the vomit but more commonly is
seen in the motions. The symptoms are similar to those caused by the tape
worm and the treatment is the same, except that, instead of the male
fern, two to five grains of santonin should be given in a little milk;
and the treatment repeated every other day for a week.
_Threadworm._—The threadworm is a small round worm usually measuring less
than half an inch in length; it inhabits the lower end of the bowel and
causes great heat and itching about the outlet, especially at night.
_Treatment._—Wash out the lower bowel and inject into it about a third of
a pint of tea, or a similar quantity of water containing one teaspoonful
of salt, tannin, or alum; then apply a little mercurial ointment around
the outlet to diminish irritation. This should be done every third day
till the worms have disappeared from the motions.
_The Guinea Worm._—The guinea worm often measures several feet in length;
it chiefly causes trouble in the feet, ankles, and legs, where in order
to obtain an exit from the body it penetrates the skin, causing a small
ulcer at its point of exit.
Usually the presence of the guinea worm is attended with inflammation and
the formation of matter.
_Prophylaxis._—Infected persons should be kept away from water supplies,
and such sources of water supply as wells and water holes should be
protected. In areas where guinea worm occurs, all water should be
boiled. If this cannot be managed, it should be filtered through a piece
of clean cotton cloth, as this will remove from it the small crustacean
in which the larva of the guinea worm develops. Another method of
treating infected water is by means of permanganate of potash, one ounce
to every 2,000 gallons of well water. Caustic potash and quicklime are
also effective.
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