Parasites: A Treatise on the Entozoa of Man and Animals: Including Some Account of the EctozoaCobbold, T. Spencer (Thomas Spencer)
Science
Parasites: A Treatise on the Entozoa of Man and Animals: Including Some Account of the Ectozoa
Cobbold, T. Spencer (Thomas Spencer)
Helminths; Parasites
The effects upon the intestinal mucous membrane are, in
most respects, similar to those occurring in the urinary organs. Blood
extravasations, with thickening, exudation, ulceration, and fungoid
projections, appear in and upon the intestinal mucous and submucous
tissues; these appearances, of course, being more or less strongly
marked according to the degree of infection.
In regard to the treatment of the helminthiasis, I am precluded from
entering into details here; nevertheless, I am glad to perceive that
the principles which I long ago enunciated have received approval both
at home and abroad. As stated in my ‘Lectures’ our object should be not
to interfere with, but to promote nature’s curative efforts. If I read
the pathological facts correctly, she seeks to bring about this result
by erecting artificial barriers which serve to moderate the bleeding.
In this way, under ordinary circumstances, the life of the bearer is
sustained, or held in the balance until the parasites either perish or
cease to be capable of causing active disease. Depend upon it, this
is the principle which should guide physicians in their treatment of
the Bilharzia disorder. If the adult parasite were merely attached
to the lining membrane of the bladder, then powerful diuretics and
medicated injections would probably prove serviceable; but since the
entozoa reside in the blood we must be careful not to increase the
patient’s troubles. In the case of intestinal worms the most powerful
parasiticides may be prescribed without let or hindrance; but that drug
must be a truly subtle worm-poison which, when taken into the system,
shall kill the blood-flukes without exerting any injurious effects upon
the parasite bearer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account