-These parasites infest the intestines. They are called solitary worms because they do not occur in numbers as other worms do, but alone. Sometimes they give rise to no symptoms, but more generally they cause all sorts of abdominal pains. Many persons imagine they have tape-worm from their having a feeling as if there was something alive inside. The only sure sign is the finding of parts of the worm in the stools, and no person should be treated for tape-worm unless these have been found. The worm consists of a head which is very small and a body which consists of flat, oblong segments, each segment being complete in itself, and containing the eggs of the creature. These segment come away from time to time, but so long as the head remains they will be replaced.
General Treatment.-When once the worm has found lodgment in the bowels there is not much to be done by way of medicines. But by way of prevention much may be done. Before the eggs of the tape- worm can develop they must pass through an intermediate stage. They must be eaten by some animal and enter into its flesh. If the flesh is eaten uncooked, the eater will most likely have tape-worm. The disease is common in countries where raw ham is eaten, pigs not being clean-feeding animals. The interference is that all meat should be well cooked before it is eaten. Medicines.-(The object of medicines is either to poison the worm, or so to affect the constitution as to render it uncongenial to the worm.
The latter is sometimes accomplished by homoeopathic medicines; the former must only be undertaken by a physician. The medicines should be taken one dose every morning for a week.)
Calcarea c. 6.
-To begin with.
Spigelia 3.
-After Calcarea
Sulph. 6.
-If these fail.
