HEALTH NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 139, 13 June 1908, Page 6

HEALTH NOTES.

' ,:' ■. _, -4-— WORKS AND THEIR TREAT- ■ / : MENT. (By Di\ Andrew^ Wilson, F.R.S.E.) From readers of pur health articles I have lately received several requests that an article should be der voted tor the subject of worm parasites. The case f am specially requested to. deal with is that of thread worms, the .presence of which, as indeed does the presence of any other form of parasite, gives rise to a considerable amount of irritation and ill-health, .not merely to children, but in adults, as well. In addition to the thread worms which form by far the" most common variety of parasite liable to infest the digestive system, we have also to consider the round worm and tlje -tape worm. The thread worm inhabits the lower part of the bowel. The average length of the worm is about a quarter of an inch. There are two sexes represented in these worms, the female worm being slightly larger than themale. These worms are extremely prolific V They "produce large numbers of eggs which, of course, escape from thH" body with the contents oft the bdw"Bl. An impdrtant prelimi'irary caution may here, however, be given. When cases are brought under our notice in which it seems to be difficult, or almost impossible to get rid of these parasites, we have to bear in mind the important fact that the body may be reinfested with them by the mouth. In plain language, if a.ny want of cleanliness is represented, the fingers may become naturally infected with the worms proceeding from the bowel, and the eggs of the parasite may in this way be; conveyed to the mouth and so re-infect the system. Personally, I have no doubt, whatever that a large number of the so-called incurable v cases of thread wornjs are due to want of precaution in exercising strict cleanliness regarding the state of the hands, and also the lower part of the "bowel itself. INFECTION. In the vast majority of cases it is probable thac infection by means of. the eggs of thread worms comes from drinking water into which the eggs of the parasites have escaped, whilst also unwashed vegetable produce may be responsible in some cases for.convey ing this ailment. In the case of tape worm infection comes to us from eating uncooked or improperly cooked meat \in which the young forms of the tape worm are found. Pork has got an unenviable reputation as a meat singularly liable to convey tape worm to us, and this opinion is no doubt correct, for the reason that we are not in the least degree careful regarding the'feeding of the ordinary pig. The animal picks up all sorts of garbage containing the eggs of the parasites which bore their way into his flesh, and which, swallowed by hundreds, develop in him into full-grown tape worms. We must also, however; remember that tape worms of another kind may be conveyed to us from the consumption of imperfectlyi cooked beet and mutton. Here we vfind one 'important means of tape worm infection, for it has been found that if all mean is cooked properly the heat necessary to effect this operation will kill the young forms of these parasites resident in the flesh. People who sat underdone meat or who consume uncooked meat in any shape whatever, should therefore be made aware of the risks they run in the way of being infected. v TREATMENT. Dealing first with the treatment of the thread worms, bear in mind what has been said regarding the necessity of absolute cleanliness being ensured. In connection with this point a physician advises that at night a little Aveak mercurial ointment should |be slightly smeared inside and round the bowel opening. In this way the i eggs of the parasites may be kept from passing out of the bowel, and may also in this fashion be destroyed. The symptoms produced by worm parasites in children consist of irritation of the digestive system, disturb|ed nights, picking at the nose, and last, but not least, bed-wetting. Mothers who are troubled with this latter habit on the part of their children will therefore do well to ascertain whether or not these parasites are present. With the cure of the ailment, bed-wetting as a rule will cease. The presence of these parasites in the bowel naturally excites the bladder and gives rise to the symptoms in question. It is iaporta"nt to see that a sufficient amount of salt is taken with the food. 1 Salt appears to act as a poison to thread worms, hence for adults injections of salt are generally giv^n, a large spoonful of salt being cis- '. solved in a tumblerful of water. For

children injections of lime water or ■ of infusion of .quassia are generally '• used. TinctufS of iron has also beon used for an adult, the proportion being half an ounce of per-chloride of' iron to a pint of water. A fainy strong- solution of tea, used cold, has , also been employed. Perseverance in the matter of cleanliness and the giv- { ing of an when the bowel is clear will generally suffice to cure ; the case. If, however, injections fan, it w\\\ be proper to try. internal remedies. A little .grey powder may be given to the child at night. Santonin is another remedy of use. Two grains of santonin in two, drachms of syrup of senna will generally suffice to cure a case, the dose being repeated after a few days if necessary. OTHER PARASITES. ; In the case of the round worm, ! which selects as its residence the ' small bowel, we find a parasite which may equal in length *an ordinary earth worm, the female worm, as in „ the case of the thread worm, being larger than the male. For the treatment of this worm tw,o grains of santonin may be given to a child of three years old and upwards. In" the case of an adult doubH this dtfse may be given. The pov.dL-r should be given mixed with castor oil, and if bowel action does not occur in six or eight hours a dose of senna may be given. A physician recommends that in the case "of children santonin may be mixed with butter and spread upon a slice of bread, but if the santonin be given with syrup of senna, as recommended in the case of thread worms, a satisfactory xesult may be t obtained. *In the case of tapeworms '■ no food should be taken for eight hours Then at right a drachm of liquid extract of maleform, mixed with one drachm of gum mucilage, . and one ounce of peppermint water j should be taken. In the morning a | full close of castor oil must be ad- [ ministered, and about 11 o'clock in the forenoon it will be well if the patient takes a plate of mashed po- j tatoe*. "When the worm has been sxpelled from the bowel it is necessary to look for the minute head of the parasite, because if the head and neck parts ha^e not been expelled the worm ia liable-to grow again, and by a process of budding ifc can reproduce ■ the joints of v/hich its body is com- ' posed. j