ROUND WORM

Categories: Animal Parasites

(Ascariasis Lumbricoides). The round worm resembles the
angle worm in form; is the most common human parasite and is found chiefly

in children. The female is seven to twelve inches long, the male four to

eight inches. It is pointed at both ends. The parasite occupies the upper

part of the small bowel and there is usually only one or two present, but

sometimes they occur in enormous numbers. They migrate in a peculiar

manner. hey may pass into the stomach, whence they may be thrown out by

vomiting, or they may crawl up the gullet, and enter the pharynx and cause

serious trouble. They may go up the eustachian tube and appear at the

external meatus (opening of ear). The serious migration is into the

bile-duct. There is a specimen in the Wister-Horner Museum of the

University of Pennsylvania in which not only the common bile-duct, but

also the main branches throughout the liver, are enormously distended, and

packed with numerous round worms. The bowel may be blocked or in rare

instances an ulcer may be perforated; even the healthy bowel may be

perforated.



Symptoms. Picking of the nose, grinding of the teeth, a whitish paleness

around the mouth, restless sleep; sometimes convulsions, or presence of

worms in the stool. Bad health, cross, peevish, irritable and dumpy, when

the child is naturally the opposite.



MOTHERS' REMEDIES. l. Round or Pin Worms, Sage Tea for. "Sage tea is a

fine remedy for children troubled with worms, taken before breakfast or on

going to bed." Sage tea may help; I have known other mothers to have faith

in it. Its virtue may consist in being a laxative and an antiseptic which

in themselves would add to the general health of the child.



2. Round and Pin Worms, Tansy remedy for. "Tansy leaves may be crushed

and put in whisky or dried and crushed with sugar. This is the best

vermifuge I ever used." A tea made of tansy leaves must be used carefully

as it is strong and never given to pregnant women.



3. Round and Pin Worms, Peach Leaf Tea for. "Half an ounce of dried peach

leaves may be infused in a pint of boiling water and a tablespoonful given

for a dose three times a day." They are laxative and exert a sedative

influence over the nervous system. They have been frequently used for

worms with reported success. An infusion is highly recommended in

irritability of the bladder, in sick stomach and in whooping cough.



PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT. l. Dr. Osler, of Oxford, England, recommends as

follows: Santonin in doses of two or three grains for an adult; one or two

a day for three or four days, followed by salts or calomel; one-half to

one grain for children in the same way. This seems to me to be

unnecessarily large.



[46 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]



2. Dr. Ritter's Santonin Remedy.



I always give it thus:

Santonin 1/10 grain

Calomel 1/10 grain



Give four a day for two days, then miss two days, then give again for two

days and stop. Salts can be given after this. I then follow this treatment

by giving one drop doses of tincture of cina (Homeopathic preparation)

four times a day for one or two weeks. Before giving any of these remedies

it is well to move the bowels freely and also after the medicine has been

stopped.



3. Dr. Douglass of Detroit, Michigan, recommends the following for a child

five to ten years old:



Santonin 12 grains

Calomel 3 grains



Divide into six powders, and give one night and morning while fasting.



4. The following is from Professor Stille:



Spigelia 1/2 ounce

Senna 2 drams

Fennel seed 2 drams

Manna 1 ounce

Boiling water 1 pint



Mix and make into an infusion (tea). Dose for a child, one or two

teaspoonfuls. For an adult, one or two wineglassfuls.