A short historical account of the several kinds of worms breeding in human bodies: extracted from the writings of the most eminent authors. With a particular description of their symptoms, and the most approved remedies for their expulsion. By M. M.

A SHORT Hiſtorical Account Of the ſeveral Kinds of WORMS Breeding in Human Bodies, &c.

CHAP. I. Of the Breeding of Worms in Human Bodies.

THAT our Bodies ſhould become the Prey of Worms, when they are returning to their Original Duſt, might be ſubmitted to without Regret; but to be ſeiz'd on before that time, and even upon our very Entrance on Life, that Infant Innocence ſhould ſuſtain the Fate of the Profane Prometheus, in having their tender Bowels corroded by theſe Inteſtine Vultures, is a Condition exceedingly deplorable, and yet ſo very frequent, that 'tis almoſt always ſuſpected in Children on every Diſorder, and not unjuſtly; ſince, as Platerus obſerves, few Perſons are free from Worms; and Experience verifies the Obſervation in the Diſſection of Dead Bodies.

Hippocrates has aſſur'd us, That unborn Infants are invaded by them; and Dolaeus in Diſſecting an Infant, which dy'd as ſoon as born, tells us, he found a Cluſter of Worms in its Bowels.

The Phyſicians and Philoſophers of former Ages, had a very ſhort and eaſy Way of Accounting for the Generation of Inſects, by ſuppoſing them bred of themſelves, out of ſome putrefying Matter, by the Aſſiſtance of Heat or Motion.

But this Account is now juſtly rejected, as extreamly Abſurd and Unreaſonable, by thoſe, who have been the leaſt acquainted with the great and ſurprizing Diſcoveries of the Modern Philoſophers; who, by the Aſſiſtance of Microſcopes (an Advantage unknown to former Ages) have found, that the minuteſt Inſects are furniſh'd with all the Parts that are neceſſary, not only for Life, but alſo for the Propagation of their ſeveral Kinds, as perfect as in larger Animals; and conſequently, are not produc'd at Random; but are the regular Off-ſpring of Parents of the ſame Kind, no leſs than others.

It's obſervable, that Nature's wiſe Author has given ſuch a Propenſion to thoſe Creatures, who cannot bring up their Progeny, to lay their Eggs in Places proper to breed them. Thus Flies commonly drop theirs in dead Bodies, Pustles, Ʋlcers, &c. becauſe in ſuch tender Parts their Eggs may lie eaſy, and find Warmth ſufficient to hatch them; and afterwards, Humidity and Food for the Nouriſhment of the Animal. An Inſtance of this is related by Mr. de la Croſs, in his Memoirs, p. 229.

A Dutch Woman had her Leg ſwoln and glandulous, about a Span from the Knee; the Chyrurgion, who had it in Cure, to know the Cauſe of the Diſeaſe, took off this glandulous Body to the Bigneſs of a Nail, waſh'd it in Brandy, cut it, and perceiv'd therein a great many little Worms; whereupon, having conſulted Mr. Leeuwenhoeck, he affirm'd, they were come from the Eggs, which a Fly had lain in the mortify'd Part, as he prov'd in the following Manner; He put theſe Worms into a Box, with a Piece of raw Beef, which was ſoon conſum'd by them, as well as the glandulous Body, wherein they were hatch'd; He fed them three ſeveral times, and five Days after, viz. July 31, he found his Box empty; but having look'd carefully about the Room, he recover'd ſome of theſe Worms, that would eat no more, and were already grown to the length of ones Nail: He put them on a Paper, cover'd with a large Glaſs; and the next Day, in the Morning, he obſerv'd one of theſe Worms ſhortned, but encreas'd a third Part in Bulk, ſo that it had ſomething of the ſhape of a Tun: In the Evening, he perceiv'd four others in the ſame Poſture, which from White became Red.

Aug. 11. The Cods of theſe Worms were all black, he open'd one of them, whence he took out a perfect Fly, that was yet wet and motionleſs: He obſerv'd, that beſides the Cod, this Inſect was wrap'd up in a very thin Membrane. He open'd this untimely Fly, and found a great quantity of Eggs in its Body.

Aug. 15. All the Flies inclos'd in the Glaſs were hatch'd, and at the ſame time he perceiv'd other Flies againſt the Glaſs-Windows of his Chamber, which he had ſuppos'd to have come from thoſe Worms, which he had not retriev'd. In feeding theſe Infects, moſt part dy'd, or fled away: So that, Sept. 7. he had but Two left, that were probably Male and Female, for they laid 145 Eggs; ſome of which he caus'd to be hatch'd in leſs than 24 Hours, by carrying them in his Pocket, ſhut up in a Box.

The Learn'd Baglivi, Phyſician at Rome, in a Letter to Mr. Andry at Paris, writes thus concerning the Breeding of Worms. The Beginning and Original of all Animals and Vegetables is from an Egg; for what elſe are the Seeds of Plants but Eggs, in which all the Rudiments of the future Plant are contracted, as it were, into a ſhort Compendium? And thoſe, by Virtue of the Fermentation of the Nutritive Juice, by the Elaſtick Power of the Air, and the double Warmth, one of the Sun, and the other of the central Warmth of the Earth, the great Mother of all, are uncover'd by little and little; and their Fetters being as it were loos'd, they grow, and arrive in due time to ſuch a Bulk, as great as is allotted to every ſort of Plant by the Laws of Nature.

If all Philoſophers and Phyſicians think thus concerning Vegetables, much more muſt they think ſo of living Creatures, not only of thoſe that are call'd Perfect, but of the Imperfect alſo, which are commonly call'd Inſects. For beſides, that there is the ſame equal Order in all Things, and that all come from one Principle, and after a certain general Circuit, end all in one again; Inſects, by an admirable Connexion and Conſtruction of Parts, and by a more noble Exerciſe of vital Operations, do not only, in no wiſe, give place to Plants, but far excel them.

Wherefore, ſince no Man ſays that Plants riſe from Putrefaction, they ought not in Reaſon to deduce the Original of Inſects, and other baſer Animals from thence. For 'tis a ſhame to Philoſophers and Phyſicians, in this moſt happy Age of Sciences, wherein the Cauſes of Things are illuſtrated by Experiments, and ſolid Precepts of the Mathematicks, to aſcribe to the fortuitous Chance of Putrefaction, that which the conſtant and perpetual Law of Nature, remaining in its Seeds, rules and directs.

For 'tis not Putrefaction that produces imperfect living Creatures, but the Heat and Fermentation of the Things putrefying, that makes fruitful the Seeds of Things ſpread all over the World, if I may be allow'd ſo to ſpeak; or rather, it ſtirs up, and revives the imperceptible Parts of the future living Creature in the Egg; and, as it were, inſpires 'em with the firſt Life, in the ſame manner with the Heat of the Sun, or that of brooding Hens.

What we have ſaid of Inſects in general, may be aptly apply'd to the Worms bred in Human Bodies, ſeeing they are not generated by putrefying Humours; but the Worms Eggs lying hid in the Inteſtines, are enliven'd, and brought forth by the ſame Means.

CHAP. II. Of the ſeveral Kinds of Worms bred in Human Bodies.

THESE pernicious Animals differ greatly, not only among themſelves, as to Shape, and other Circumſtances; but alſo in reſpect of the ſeveral Parts of the Body they poſſeſs, and whence they receive their Denomination.

Thus the Cephalick breed in the Head, where they occaſion violent Pains, Diſtractions, and ſometimes contagious Diſtempers; Sennertus mentions a Perſon afflicted with an Head-Ach violent to Diſtraction; when after ſeven Days Continuance, and the Patient almoſt dead with the Pain, a Worm came out of his right Noſtril, above a Span long, after which he ſoon recover'd.

Mr. Andry ſays, he knew a Man, who being cur'd of a Venereal Diſeaſe, complain'd afterwards of an unſufferable Pain in his Head; for which his Skull was trepan'd, and a little ſhort Worm was found upon the Dura-mater; which being taken out, the Patient recover'd a perſect Health.

Such another Caſe is related by Foreſtus, only the Worm he ſpeaks of was Black.

Hild-ſheim tells of a Perſon, who voided Thirteen long Worms alive, and Woolly like a Caterpiller from his Noſtrils, Ears and Mouth.

C. Gemma reports of a Matron dying of a Peſtilential Fever, whoſe Head being open'd, there appear'd abundance of Worms, both in the Subſtance of the Brain, and between the Coverings, and alſo Swarms of Inſects like Bugs.

But the Account which F. Angelinus ſent his Friend is wonderful, concerning a Perſon who had an Epidemical Fever, and was reſtleſs eight Nights; when, upon his Recovery, he was troubled with an Itching in his right Noſtril; and ſoon after there came out of it a Worm as long as ones little Finger, its Body thick and red, its Head black and hard, with two ſharp Arms like thoſe of a Scorpion; ſix Feet towards the Head, and ſome ſmall ones towards the Tail, on which it walk'd very briskly; it liv'd four Days without Food.

Kerckingius in his Anatomical Obſervations, gives us the Figure of an Hairy horn'd Worm, which came out of the Noſtril of a Woman at Amſterdam, on the 21ſt of Sept. 1688. which he kept alive 'till the 3d of October, without giving it any Food: And which is very Remarkable, it brought forth another Worm before it dy'd.

A Peſtilential Fever rag'd at Beneventum, and ſwept off abundance of People; at length the Phyſicians opening the Head of one that dy'd of it, found a little live Worm very ſhort, and all over red; and having try'd ſeveral Things to kill it, found nothing effectual but the Decoction of Radiſhes in Malmſey Wine, which was no ſooner pour'd on the Worm but it dy'd; after which they adminiſtred the ſame Remedy to all their Patients, and almoſt all recover'd.

Schenckius alſo relates, That in the Year 1571. and Epidemical Fever rag'd in Ancona, which caus'd a furious Giddineſs, and Death on the third or fourth Day. All the Phyſicians of the Place confeſs'd they did not underſtand the Diſeaſe, and conſequently knew not how to cure it. A rich young Man finding a Periodical Pain beginning in his Head, became apprehenſive of being ſeiz'd with the Diſtemper; and being frighted by the ingenuous Acknowledgment of the Phyſicians, left the Country, and went to Venice; where calling for a Conſultation of the moſt Learned Phyſicians, one of them aſſerted, that a Worm in the Brain was the occaſion of thoſe Periodical Pains, which were ſo violent in the Paroxyſm, without diſturbing his Reaſon or Memory, that it ſeem'd as if his Head had been bored with an Iron.

They adminiſtred ſeveral Things without Effect, ſo that he dy'd in three Days time after his Arrival. They open'd his Head, and found on the Right ſide, under the Piamater the Head of a Worm, which by Reaſon of the cold Air, immediately retir'd into the Subſtance of the Brain. They then cut open the Ventricles of the Brain, and trac'd out the Worm, which was all over Red, as long as one's Fore-finger; the Head black and pointed, and the Neck Hairy.

Amatus Luſit. took a Worm out of the inner Corner of a Girl's Eye; 'twas half a Span long, white, and alive when taken out.

Sometimes Worms are found in the Ear, as in a Girl of Ten Years old, who was afflicted with the Evil, and had a violent Pain in the Right Ear, which ſuppurated from time to time, and ſometimes ſhe became Deaf. Mr. Andry, after a fruitleſs Application of ſeveral Remedies, ſuſpected Worms, and apply'd an Ointment for that Purpoſe; whereupon abundance of ſmall Worms came forth, they were yellow, long, and very ſlender.

Kerkingius gives an Account of five Worms, which came from a Man's Ear in the Year 1663. very much like Hog-Lice.

There are Worms which breed under a Cruſt, that covers the ſurface of the Teeth. They are very ſmall, and have a round Head, mark'd with a black Point, the other Part of their Body being long and ſlender. Theſe Worms corrode the Teeth by degrees, and occaſion a Stink, but no violent Pain. They are call'd Dentarii.

Even the Liver has been obſerv'd to entertain theſe Inſects, ſo Caſper Bauhinus relates, That in October 1578. ſeveral ſmall Worms were found in the Liver of a Child of two Years of Age, that dy'd of the Small-Pox: They were red, round, ſomewhat long and ſoft; it ſeem'd ſtrange to ſeveral Phyſicians, who were preſent at the opening: But it may be conſider'd, that there may be ſeveral Accidents, wherein the Gall in the Liver may be ſo much alter'd, as to loſe very much of its Bitterneſs, and thereby permit the Ingendring of Worms.

They ſometimes breed in the Heart, occaſioning violent Pains, Swoonings and ſudden Death. Thus Sphererius writes, That a Florentine Gentleman diſcourſing one Day with a Stranger, in the Great Duke of Tuſcany's Court, drop'd down dead, on a ſudden; and his Body being open'd on Suſpicion of Poiſon, a live Worm was found in the Heart.

The Pleuriſy has been often obſerv'd to be occaſion'd by Worms. Gabucinus viſited a Maid, ſeiz'd with a Pleuriſy, and obſerving her cold and hot reciprocally, and in her hot Fits one of her Cheeks very red, the other continuing pale, ſuſpecting Worms, he preſcrib'd her a Medicine for that purpoſe, which, brought away a great Number of Worms, and thereupon the Pleuriſy left her.

Several ancient Men, as Quercitan teſtifies, defunct, of Pleuriſies, had their Inteſtines full of large Worms, which he concluded the Cauſe of that Diſtemper.

Dr. Loſs, in his Obſervations, relates ſuch a Caſe of a Youth about Fourteen Years of Age, of a thin and bilious Conſtitution, who in a very ſharp Winter, having gotten Cold, was ſeiz'd with a true Pleuriſy, attended with a continual Fever; a pricking Pain in his leſt Breaſt, reaching to his Throat, a difficulty in Breathing, a violent Cough, and Spitting of Blood; his Body was by Intervals cold and hot, with a Redneſs in his Cheeks, and a great Reſtleſsneſs. About the fifth Day of the Diſeaſe, being Coſtive, a Gliſter of Milk was injected, which brought away five Worms, which were Teretes; wherefore with ſome Alteration of the Medicines, which were before preſcrib'd, the following Powder was exhibited.

& Scord. card. ben. a ℈ j Corallin. ℈ ij C.C.C. ʒ j Rhabarb. ℈ 4 Sal Centuar. ℈ j Doſe ʒ ſs.

After which Worms came away daily, in all above Thirty, and he recover'd.

Dr. Andry had ſo remarkable a Caſe of this ſort, that it put him upon Writing an entire Book on the Subject of Worms. The Caſe was this, On the 4th of June, 1698. a young Man, about Thirty Years of Age, was ſeiz'd with a Fever, great Pain in his Side, Spitting of Blood, and Difficulty of Breathing. He began the Cure by Opening a Vein, and repeated the ſame the next Day, on the 3d he ſweated, on the 4th he ſeem'd to be much better; but from thence to the 5th he had a Delirium, which went off the next Morning. The Delirium not being preceded by the uſual Signs, occaſion'd a Suſpicion of Worms, and finding withal a great many in his Excrements by Stool, he preſcrib'd a purging Medicine the next Morning (which has been very ſucceſsful in that Caſe) an Hour after the taking it, the Patient found ſomething ſtir in his Body, which Motion continu'd two Hours, and determin'd in the Iſſuing forth of a live Worm, or rather Link of Worms, four Ells three Inches in Length, being the Cucurbitini, which are particularly deſcrib'd, p. 34.

Sometimes we meet with 'em in the Blood, where they obſtruct the Orifice in Bleeding; ſo a Chirurgion at Paris, whilſt he was Bleeding a Patient, found the Blood ſtop on a ſudden; and turning up the Arm to find the Cauſe, he ſaw an horned Worm as long as an Earwig, which burſt out with Violence along with the Blood.

Such another Accident is related by Mr. de la Croſe, in his Memoirs, of Mr. du Puy, a French Phyſician; who being preſent at the Bleeding of a Lady, his Patient, the Blood, after it had ſprung out above two Ounces, ſtop'd on a ſudden; and as he was looking for the Cauſe of it, he perceiv'd an Heterogeneous Body that ſtop'd the Orifice; whereupon taking the Chirurgion's Forceps, he drew out a Worm as big as could come out of the Inciſion.

He accounts for its coming there in the following Manner: The Egg of ſome flying Inſect had been ſwallow'd by the Patient in her Food, and being deſcended into the ſmall Guts, went with the Chile into the Milky Veins, through all the Pores of the filtrating Glandules, the Heart, Lungs, Aorta, 'till arriving at laſt to the Extremities or the Fingers, it remain'd there among their ſmall Arteries and Veins, and was hatch'd out by the moſt convenient and natural Heat of the Blood and Fleſh. Having thus gotten the Life and Motion of a Worm, it ſwam for greater Eaſe and Room into the Arm; and following ſtill the cheriſhing Liquor, wherein it was bred, it came at length to the Inciſion of the Vein, whence Mr. du Pay extracted it.

They have been often ſeen in the Urine, and of various Kinds; ſome like Hog-Lice, others like Mites in Cheeſe, ſome like Leeches, others like Graſs-Hoppers; of which laſt ſort was that voided by Count Mansfield, when he lay ill of a continual Fever.

Vidius writes of one, who after tedious Pains in the Kidnies, diſcharg'd a ſmall Worm by Urine; its Head was ſharp and horned, its Back and Belly broad, and cover'd with an hard Shell like a Tortoiſe, its Colour black, but reddiſh on the Belly.

Sennertus ſays, he ſaw the whole Subſtance of the Kidnies of a Dog waſted, and only the outward Skin left, which was full of Worms like Earth-worms.

Dr. Turberville, in the Philoſ. Tranſ. No. 167. p. 839. gives an Account of a Gentlewoman, who was much troubled with the Falling-Sickneſs, and diſcharg'd by Urine a great Number of ſhort Worms like Millipedes; two or three Purges were preſcrib'd her, and ſtill in every Water that was brought the Phyſician, he found, Eight, Ten, or more of thoſe Worms; they appear'd lively, and full of Motion, and the Fits continu'd daily; at laſt he gave her Oxymel Helleboratum in Tanſy- Water, which wrought well, and was ſucceſsful; ſo that ſhe had a compleat Cure.

In the Philoſ. Tranſ. there is an Account of one Mr. Thomas Dent, who being afflicted with Tumours on his Tongue, apply'd himſelf to one Mrs. French at Leiceſter; who (in the Preſence of Two Aldermen of that Town, Mr. Gibbs, Chaplain to the Earl of Derby, and others) pierc'd the Parts tumify'd with a Lancet, and drew ſome Blood; and ſoon after with a ſmall Spatula, and another Inſtrument, wherewith ſhe open'd the Orifices, ſhe pick'd out five or ſix Worms at a time. She plainly ſhew'd them to the Spectators, as they came out of the Fleſh; they were all alive, and mov'd their Heads, somewhat leſſer than ordinary Maggots: In leſs than eight Days ſhe took out of the Tongue more than an hundred Worms, almoſt all of the ſame Bigneſs, except two very large ones, which ſhe ſaid were of a Cancerous Production. She took more than Thirty out of the Gums, which laſt Operation was her ordinary Practice.

Mr. de la Croſe in his Memoirs, p. 223. gives an Account of one Sarah Haſtings, who follow'd the ſame Practice at Holm, in Huntingdon-ſhire; and had attain'd to ſo great Skill, as to diſcern at firſt Sight, whether any Perſon had Worms great or ſmall in his Gums, Tongue or Face: Theſe Worms ſhe affirm'd to be the Cauſe of Rottenneſs of the Teeth, of Pustules, and many other Putrefactions; ſhe drew them out of any Part in three or four Minutes, with a Gooſe-Quill, cut like a Pen; ſhe pierc'd the Part ſo Dexterouſly, that the Pain was almoſt inſenſible; then ſhe threw the extracted Worms into a Glaſs of clean Water, where they appeared to have a round and red Head, the reſt of the Body being white. He there relates ſeveral extraordinary Cures of that Sort, too large to inſert here.

But of all the Parts, the Stomach and Guts are the moſt uſually infeſted with Worms, eſpecially in Children: However, before we enter upon a particular Deſcription of thoſe, which properly belong to theſe Parts, it may be convenient to entertain the Reader with ſome Hiſtories of very ſtrange Animals, excluded the Stomach by Vomiting. The Accounts are taken out of the Philoſ. Tranſactions.

The firſt is Dr. Liſter's, of a Baker at York, who in March 1681/2. vomited up a Worm of a very ſtrange Figure; I found it (ſays the Doctor) in the Blood, which came up with it; having caus'd it to be waſh'd, for the more careful Examination of it; much of the Blood being Clods of a kind of skinny and fleſhy Subſtance. Of this kind of Blood there was about two Pounds ſav'd in the Waſhing, and this odd Animal amongſt it: It was of a dark, green Colour, like an Horſe-Leech, and ſpotted, not unlike ſome of them. I could not perceive, when I found it, any Life or Motion in it. The Girl, who waſh'd it, had beaten off almoſt a Fin, and part of one of the Forks of the Tail, and burſt its Belly; yet it was regularly and curiouſly ſhap'd in all its Members. The Man imagin'd he drank it the Summer before in Pond-Water, whereof he was us'd to drink after ſore Labour in his Calling. This is certain, he had about his Stomach, and right Side, a moſt exquiſite and tormenting Pain for at leaſt four Months, which many times threw him into Horrors and Chilneſs, Ague like; and indeed, when he vomited this up, he was the ſickeſt Man I ever ſaw, not to die: He alſo voided Blood by Stool ſeveral Days.

I am at a loſs where to place this Animal, it not being like any thing I ever ſaw in Nature. It was about four Inches long, and in the thickeſt Part three Inches about; it had three Fins on a ſide, all near the Head, and all of them were thick and fleſhy; but the forked Tail was finny and tranſparent, and to be extended. It was plac'd Horrizantally, not as that of moſt (if not all) ſmall Fiſh; and even Newts and Tadpoles, or Frogs in Diſguiſe, in which Particular it differs from all, as well as in the Fleſhineſs of the Fins.

Beſides this odd Animal, I found the Head of another of a different Shape; but the like dark green Colour.

I'm apt to think, we often eat and drink what is alive; and 'tis certain, ſome Things will live on in our Stomachs in ſpight of Concoction, as Gut-Worms bred in us, and perhaps in ſome Children before they are born. And yet I am of the Mind, that what was accidentally ſwallow'd by us alive, and that ſhall have the Power to live on within us (eſpecially if it be young and tender) and yet growing, may have its Shape and deſign'd Form ſo monſtrouſly perverted, as to appear to us quite another Thing than naturally it is; and this I take to be the Caſe of this odd Creature, which might have been the Spawn, or Embrio of a Toad or Newt.

The skinny Lumps of Blood vomited up with it, I think, may be eaſily accounted, for. For this Spawn, or Embrio of a Toad or Newt, might well envenom the Stomach or Gut, in which Part or Wrinckle ſoever it chanc'd to reſt or ſtick firſt, and cauſe an Inflamation there, and have it ſwell'd or clos'd up within a Tumour of its own making; which in Proceſs of Time might gather to this Bigneſs, and at length burſting in Pieces, come up together.

Familiar Inſtances of this Nature we ſee in Fruits or Wens, which Inſects raiſe upon Vegetables; who by natural Inſtinct know how to envenom a Plant, and compendiouſly provide both Food and Houſing for their Young. So far Dr. Liſter.

The next is, No. 117. p. 395. Of a Girl at Sheffield, about eight Months old, who was ſeiz'd with violent Fits of Vomiting, which held her about a Week; and Mr. Fiſher being ſent for, and happening to ſay, that Wormwood was good for the Stomach, whilſt he was gone to fetch ſome Things proper for that Occaſion, they in the mean Time offer'd the Child ſome Wormwood Ale, which ſhe took ſo greedily, that ſhe ſwallow'd down a Pint of it; and at his Return, ſhe vomited up in his Preſence three Hexapodes (i. e. Worms with ſix Feet) all very active and nimble; and the Child ſoon recover'd. Mr. Fiſher carry'd them the ſame Day to Mr. Jeſſop (who ſent the Account) they kill'd one of them in trying Experiments upon it, but gave each of the other Two, the Head of a ſhining Atricapella (a Bird with black Feathers on its Head) which in about five Week's Time they eat up, Bones, Feathers and all, except the Extremities of the Feathers and Beaks. Then they gave them a Piece of Larus (a Sea-Cob) but that it ſeems did not agree ſo well with them, for they dy'd within two Days after.

The laſt Account is Dr. Liſter's, the Son of one not far from Rippon, about 9 Years of Age, in Feb. 1674. was afflicted with a great Pain in his Stomach, and continual Vomitings; a Powder was given him, wherein was a ſmall Quantity of Mercurius Dulcis; he thereupon vomited up ſeveral ſtrange Worms, two of which were brought the Doctor at York, one dead, the other alive, 'till he put it into Spirit of Wine, to preſerve it in its true Shape. Theſe Worms were very Caterpillers, with fourteen Legs, viz. ſix ſmall pointed, the eight middle Stumps, and the two hind ones Claſpers. They were ſomething more than an Inch long, of the thickneſs of a Duck's-Quill, thin hair'd, or rather naked, with brown Annuli, and black Heads; the ſame for kind, that is often ſeen on Plants. Theſe, no doubt, would in due time, if the Place had not hindred, have ſhrunk into Chryſalis's, and chang'd into Moths; as alſo thoſe mention'd by Mr. Jeſſop, in the preceeding Hiſtory, would have chang'd into Beetles.

The proper Inhabitants of theſe dark Regions, are of four Sorts; viz. The Teres, the Cucurbitini, the Taenia, and the Aſcarides.

1. Of the Teres, or common long and round Worm, Dr. Tyſon has given a very curious Anatomical Deſcription in the Philoſ. Tranſ. No. 147. p. 154. from whence I ſhall borrow a few Obſervations. Tho' we are gravell'd (ſays the Doctor) in Aſſigning how theſe Sorts of Worms ſhould come firſt into the Body; yet being once there, nothing is more plain, than that they are propagated by an univocal Generation; there being in this Sort, ſo perfect a Diſtinction or Sexes, Male and Female; and the Organs of each ſo curiouſly contriv'd, ſo conſpicuous and plain, as ſhew how ſolicitous Nature is in preſerving, and propagating the meaneſt Species.

This Worm, which Children are uſually troubled with, is uſually a Foot long, the Male generally leſs than the Female; its thickneſs about that of a Wheat Straw, or Gooſe-Quill, at both Extreams, they grow narrow, the Mouth conſiſts of three Lips, the Anus of a tranſverſe Slit, a little before the extream Point of the Tail.

In Cutting thro' the Muſcles under the Skin, there iſſu'd out a copious Ichor, which is naturally diſcharg'd by ſome Pores in the Skin, and makes a Covering to the Body, which is often caſt off, and obſerv'd as a mucous Matter in the Stools of thoſe, who are troubled with them.

In Opening the Cornua Ʋteri of the Female Worm, they were found turgid with a Milky Juice, a little of which being plac'd on a ſmall Microſcope, was found to be nothing elſe but an infinite Number of Eggs, tho' to the naked Eye, it appear'd only as a fluid Body.

By Comparing that ſmall Quantity, I did obſerve, and in which I could diſtinguiſh ſo many Eggs, with the whole Quantity contain'd, in both the Cornua, I cannot gueſs there could be fewer than Ten Thouſand in each Female Worm, which ſufficiently accounts for that prodigious Number of Worms, ſometimes obſerv'd to be bred in Animal Bodies; and were it not that the greateſt Part of the Litter of this Worm is uſually carry'd forth by the Faeces, it could not be avoided, but we ſhould be devour'd by ſuch a multiparous Enemy, bred in our own Bowels; of whoſe pernicious Effects, ſome of the following Inſtances are fatal Proofs.

Dr. Preſton, in the Philoſ. Tranſ. p. 326. No. 224. relates, That in Diſſecting a Boy of Nine Years of Age, who dy'd ſuddenly, being ſeiz'd with a Fit of Vomiting; beſides, a great many other Diſorders of all the Bowels, they found a Worm in the Stomach about nine Inches long, and a Line and a half broad.

Dr. James Burrows reports, in the Philoſ. Tranſ. No. 264. p. 598. That in May or June 1700. a Labouring Man of middle Age at Stanton, ſeven Miles from Bury, had for many Days together ſo inordinate an Appetite, that he eat up an ordinary Leg of Veal roaſted at a Meal. He would eat Sow-Thiſtles, and divers other Herbs, as greedily, during the time his Bulimia laſted, as the Beaſts that uſe ſuch Food; and all he could get was little enough to ſatisfy his Hunger, 'till at length he voided divers Worms, as long, and as big about as a Tobacco-Pipe; after which, his Appetite declin'd by degrees, 'till it came to the common Rate of others.

We have alſo an Account, in the ſame Place, of a Diſſection perform'd by the Sieur Soye, in an Hoſpital, on the Body of a Servant Maid, about twenty ſix Years of Age, who was from time to time ſeiz'd with a Bloody-Flux. He found the Colon, and part of the Meſentery ulcerated, the Mouth of which Ʋlcer was ſo large, that one might eaſily thruſt in his Fiſt at it, and 'twas ſtop'd with a Clew of Worms greater than it.

Dr. Loſs, in his Book of Obſervations writes, That the Son of Sir Lewis Dive, a Child of a good Conſtitution of Body, after an Indiſpoſition of two or three Days, attended with a dry Cough, and a reſtleſs Condition, eſpecially in the Night, with continual Cryings, was at length ſeiz'd with violent and continual Convulſions, whereof in three Days he dy'd. In cutting open the Body to diſcover the Cauſe, they were ſoon ſatisfy'd, when they found the Duodenum quite eaten thro' by a Teres, or long Worm, which was taken out alive.

Dr. Willis, in his Book of Fevers tells us, He knew one in an acute Fever, who was moleſted with continual Swoonings, 'till he vomited up a long round Worm; and thereupon his Swoonings left him.

Examples of this Kind are very numerous, and 'tis no wonder to meet with this Species in their proper Soil; but the Account which Dr. Liſter has publiſh'd in the Philoſ. Tranſ. is very ſurprizing; viz. In April 1673. a Chyrurgion at York brought him about twenty Worms, which he had juſt taken out of an ulcerated Ancle of a Girl about eight Years of Age; ſhe had been in great Miſery ſome Months, and had been ſent up to London, where ſhe was touch'd and dreſs'd for the Evil; ſometime after her Return, her Pain continuing, a young Puppy was open'd, and apply'd to the Sore. The Chyrurgion, who took off the Puppy, found it to his great Surprize full of Worms, at leaſt ſixty in Number, of the Species of the Teretes, which Children familiarly void from the Guts. They were between three and four Inches long, all about an equal Bigneſs, as of one Brood, ſomething thicker than a Duck's-Quill, very ſharp at both Ends; ſtiff, and exactly round, and yet could move, and twiſt themſelves viſibly enough. The Leg was ſound, all but the Ancle, which was vaſtly ſwell'd, and the Girl otherwiſe hearty, and well colour'd.

2. The Taenia, or Tape Worm, ſo call'd from its Reſemblance to a Tape or Ribbon, is broad and flat, and white; its Thinneſs renders it diaphanous, its Length is very uncertain, becauſe its Subſtance being very ſoft and tender; it uſually breaks off when it comes away, ſo that 'tis very rare to find it entire; the whole is probably the Length of all the Bowels, that is, ſeven times the Length of the Man; but lying very much folded together, takes up but little Room; it uſually comes away Piece-meal, ſeven or eight Foot long, ſometimes nineteen, twenty three, thirty; forty five Foot of it has been found broke off at a time; it grows gradually ſmaller towards the Tail, which terminates in a very ſmall and long Part like an Hair; in its wideſt Part, its Breadth is about that of one's Forefinger.

Spigelius tells us of a Woman, who voided at ſeveral times ſeveral Pieces of this Wormy, whereof two were extraordinary long. The firſt that came away, was two Yards and a half long, containing the Tail Part of the Worm, but wanting the extream Part of the Tail, perhaps unknowingly broke off by the Patient before, part of it hanging out of the Anus; her Siſter drew it forth ſo far, but tir'd with its prodigious Length, ſhe broke it off with her Nails; this Piece, in that Part where it was freſh broke off, was as broad as ones little Finger, and became narrower gradually as it approach'd the Tail; its Subſtance was ſoft, throughout white, bloodleſs like a Membrane of the Guts. Another Piece that came away about a Year after, was eight Foot long, and the breadth of ones Middle-Finger; the Joints were larger and thicker, the Inciſures wider, and the Sides more jagged.

Fabricius gives a Deſcription of the like Sort of Worm, which a Woman of twenty Years of Age voided, upon taking a Purging Medicine, which was twenty Spans long; one of the Extreams was as ſlender as a Thread, the other broad.

The ſame Author relates the following Hiſtory.

A Lady at Lauſanne, in France, very ſubject in her Youth to Palpitations of the Heart; and after a ſort of Purge ſhe us'd to take, ſhe voided ſometimes very long Pieces of Worms. After ſhe was marry'd, and began to have Children, her Palpitations left her, only ſhe was troubled with a Lienteria; during which, ſhe voided downwards ſeveral Pieces of Worms; ſome ſix, ſome nine, others ten Spans long. Every time ſhe voided theſe Pieces, ſhe felt the Worms break in her Bowels; one Day, after taking her Remedy, ſhe voided a Piece of Worm ſeven Ells long; and a few Days after, another Piece, without perceiving as before that any thing broke; from which time ſhe became perfectly well. All the Pieces put together, would make above twenty Ells.

Olaus Borrhicius tells us, That a Patient of his has voided eight hundred Foot of this Worm in ſeveral Pieces; and that hitherto, he has not met with the Head; for the Patient declar'd, that always in the Voiding, he perceiv'd it break off.

A Sucking-Child (by the Relation of Caſp. Wolphius) brought forth a broad Worm, at leaſt three Ells long.

3. The Cucurbitinj, or ſpurious jointed Tape Worm; Valliſnerius, an Italian Phyſician, has publiſh'd a very large and accurate Deſcription of this Species of Gut-Worms, the Reſult of his indefatigable Induſtry, from whom I have taken this Account following. Anno 1706. viſiting a Jeweſs, twenty five Years of Age, three Months gone with Child (who, like many of that Nation, was incident to broad Worms, which in her third or fourth Month, uſually occaſion'd her to Miſcarry; but when ſhe was not with Child, they never gave her any Diſturbance. She often voided, by Vomiting and Stool, many of theſe Worms, as well ſingly as link'd together, in the manner of a Chain:) She had juſt diſcharg'd a very long Chain of theſe Worms, beſides ſeveral ſingly. He ſeparated without much Pains, many of theſe from each other in that Part which was largeſt; but obſerv'd, they were very ſtrictly joyn'd together.

Every one of theſe conſiſted of a Membranous, ſoft, white, ſhining, flexible and ſlippery Matter; the upper Part ſmaller than the lower.

In the upper Side of each there ariſe two very ſmall Prominences, which, when preſs'd with the Fingers, feel like little Horns, or crooked Thorns, and are conſpicuous by the Microſcope.

By theſe they adhere firmly to the hinder Part of the preceding Worm, in whoſe poſtick Part are Cavities fitted to receive theſe Prominences.

The lateral Parts of theſe Worms are rugged, and out of their Middle riſes a kind of Tet, whoſe Center is perforated with a very conſpicuous Opening, and pours out ſometimes a quantity of Chyle, ſometimes clear Water, ſometimes a yellow Serum.

Their Mouth is in the narrower and upper Side, between the two Protuberances; If it be objected, that if the Mouth be in this Part, they cannot receive Nouriſhment by it adhering ſo cloſely to the preceding Worm. 'Tis anſwer'd, they being fed with a fluid Matter Chyle, which penetrating every where, eaſily enters that Chink where the Mouth is, ſince the middle Part is not ſo cloſe as the Jettings. Beſides, that when the Worms adhere ſo cloſe, 'tis to preſerve themſelves when in danger of Expulſion; at other times they are more cloſely connected.

Theſe flat Worms, when ſingle, very much reſemble in Bigneſs and Shape the Seed of a Gourd, which in Latin is call'd Cucurbita, whence they are call'd Cucurbitini; and being very numerous, and adhering to each other ſo firmly in the manner aforeſaid, do form a Chain of a ſurprizing Length, which has been miſtaken by ſeveral very eminent Authors for an entire Worm; in particular, the Ingenious Dr. Tyſon, and Mr. Andry of France, the former having given a very particular and large Account of it in the Philoſ. Tranſ. No. 146. p. 113.

Mr. Andry, in Examining theſe Worms very diligently with a Microſcope, after cutting them open, perceiv'd them full of ſmall globular Bodies, reſembling that Cluſter of Eggs, uſually found in Carps: Theſe Eggs are ſo numerous, that the Quantity taken up with the Point of a Pin, tho' no bigger than a Grain of Duſt, would appear, under a Microſcope, an incredible Pile of ſmall Eggs; which ſufficiently accounts for the vaſt Number of theſe Inſects.

They are found in Perſons of all Ages.

Dr. George Francus ſaw a Child one Year three Months old, in the Year 1686. in good Health, and Fleſhy; who, tho' it ſuck'd, us'd to drink Beer and Water, after he had voided ſeveral ſmall Worms upwards and downwards; at length, brought away a Chain of Cucurbitini three Ells long; which would have been much longer, if the frighted Nurſe had not broke it off, inſtead of drawing it all out. Miſcel. Curioſ.

Wagner relates of a Soldier, who was freed of ſuch a Chain of Worms ſix Ells long; and ſoon after of another longer than the former.

Examples of theſe Worms are innumerable, tho' many Authors have ſet them down ſo confuſedly, that 'tis not poſſible to diſtinguiſh whether they are the genuine Taenia, deſcrib'd in the ſecond Article, which is but one entire Worm, or this ſpurious Sort, conſiſting of a Chain of Cucurbitini.

Dr. Tyſon mentions a Perſon in London, who has voided vaſt Quantities of theſe Worms for ſeveral Years together; but in ſeveral Pieces, two, three, four, ſix, or more Yards long; and ſays, he had a Piece by him of a great Length, voided by a young Man, upon the Uſe of an Emulſion of the cold Seeds. It was twenty four Foot long, and conſiſted of five hundred and ſeven Joints or Worms, in Thickneſs about that of an Half-Crown. The Perſon drag'd it from himſelf, not without frightful Apprehenſions, that Guts, and all were coming out.

Theſe Chains of Worms lye convoluted in ſeveral Places, and are ſometimes as long as all the Guts, and ſometimes vaſtly exceed that Length.

Theſe Worms have been found ſometimes included in a Bag; which has been miſtaken by ſeveral for a large Worm. The Jeweſs, before-mention'd, upon a Time imagining a large Piece of her Bowels coming from her, tho' ſhe felt no Pain, being frighted at it, ſhe ſent for her Phyſician, who was himſelf at firſt ſurpriz'd at it. This Subſtance was like a doubl'd Rowler, cloſe in every Part, compos'd of a thick, ſmooth, ſhining, tranſparent and mucilaginous Membrane, two Thumbs broad, above a Yard long; it was hollow, and contain'd within it a numberleſs Quantity of Cucurbitini, not link'd together; but every one ſeparate, their Bigneſs was various, they were all alive, and mov'd freely.

This Bag ſeems to be form'd moſtly of a concreſſible Humour in the Inteſtines, after the ſame manner as Polypus's in the Heart and Arteries, and is encreas'd by a glewy Matter, caſt out by theſe Worms from their lateral Orifices.

The Teretes alſo, or long and round Worms, are ſometimes found involv'd in ſuch a Bag.

4. The laſt Species of Worms, uſually found in the Inteſtines, are the Aſcarides; they are very ſmall and round, full of Vivacity and Motion. Their Habitation is in the loweſt Part of the Inteſtines, where they provoke a continual Itching; and occaſion ſometimes moſt direful Symptoms. Dr. Curteis, in his Treatiſe on the Recovery of Health, gives us the following Example.

A Boy, about twelve Years of Age, was ſo extreamly afflicted with ſuch formidable Symptoms, as were imputed to the Effect of Witchcraft: What gave Birth to ſo general a Conjecture, were the extraordinary Convulſions, Rolling, Screaming, violent Beating himſelf, &c. by frequent Paroxiſms; all which ſoon diſappear'd, and the Myſtery was at an end, upon his liberally taking the Aethiops, Mineral and Purging; and thereupon voiding an almoſt incredible Number of Worms of different Sizes, and eſpecially of theſe Aſcarides; whereupon the Patient was reſcu'd from his imagin'd Witchcraft, and a very poor old Woman from worſe than Hanging, who was ſuſpected of being the Occaſion.

Several Examples of this Sort of Worms might be produc'd out of Authors; but this is ſufficient for a Specimen.

CHAP. III. The Signs of Worms from Mr. Andry.

THE Signs of Worms are Common or Particular.

The common Signs ſhew the Genius, and the Particular the Species; that is, when the Common meet, we ſay, there are Worms; and when we find particular Signs, we may ſay, not only that there are Worms in general, but that thoſe Worms are of ſuch a particular Sort.

The common Signs are fiery ſparkling Eyes, livid Cheeks, cold Sweats in the Nights, Abundance of Spittle drivelling from the Mouth in Sleep, great Drowth in the Day-time, Dryneſs of the Tongue and Lips, a Stinking-Breath, Grating of the Teeth in Sleep, a conſtant Looſeneſs, with whitiſh Excrements, frothy Urine, ſometimes White, ſometimes Obſcure, but for the moſt part Thick and Muddy.

Frequent Vomitings, and Convulſion-Fits are ſometimes Signs of Worms; that is, when the Vomitings throw up nothing but what has been eaten, and the Convulſions are without Foaming at the Mouth.

Sometimes they riſe in their Sleep, and move their Lips as if they were eating: To know if theſe Symptoms are from Worms, obſerve, if they are eas'd by Abſtinence; for they that have Worms, cannot faſt without finding themſelves tormented; not by Hunger, for many times they have no Appetite; but by Twitchings and Tearings, caus'd by the various Motions of the Worms in ſearch of Food.

A dry Cough is very often a Sign of Worms; by this Foreſtus knew, that a little Girl, who had been ſix Months ill of a Quartan-Ague, was troubl'd with Worms; he preſcrib'd her Medicines accordingly, which brought away five Worms, and her Ague thereupon left her.

A Stinking-Breath is very often a Sign; ſo Braſſavolus, viſiting an old Man eighty Years of Age, who ſeem'd to lye a dying, knew by his Breath that he was troubl'd with Worms; he thereupon directed him ſome Vermifuges, which ſcour'd away five hundred Worms, and cur'd him.

Raging Hunger many times proceeds from Worms, when 'tis accompany'd with extream Leanneſs, tho' the Party eat much; thus a Boy, about twelve Years of Age (ſays Foreſtus) had kept his Bed for ſeveral Months, and was dry'd almoſt to a Skeleton, without feeling any other Illneſs than a ſlight Pain in his Belly, near his Navel: The Phyſician was at firſt a little at a ſtand to find out the Diſtemper, the Cauſe of which he could not imagine; for the Child eat very well, tho' to no Purpoſe; his Urine was of a good Conſiſtency and Colour, tho' ſomewhat Crude and Wateriſh; but the Pain of his Belly, together with his extraordinary Hunger, caus'd him to ſuſpect Worms: Therefore, for ſeveral Days, twice a Day, he order'd a Glaſs of the Decoction of Hyſſop, Marjoram, Fennel, Fumitory, Centaury and Wormwood, with Oxymel, Syrup of Fumitory, and Honey of Roſes. This Medicine, every time he took it, caus'd him to void a great Number of Worms, and perfectly cur'd him.

The particular Signs differ according to the Species of Worms.

The Signs of Long and Round Worms, are Tenſions of the Belly, with Hardneſs and Pain, Itching of the Noſe, Corroſion of the Guts, Hiccoughs, a Palpitation in Sleep, Waking with ſudden Startings, or Shrieks, an unequal Pulſe, intermitting Fevers, of which the Party will have three or four Fits, without any certain Order; the Eyes hollow, and ſometimes red; the Cheeks ſometimes glowing red, and ſometimes of a Lead Colour; ſometimes they want a Stomach, and vomit after Eating; they have Fevers, accompany'd with Cold in the extream Parts of the Body: Theſe Signs never meet altogether, but ſometimes one, ſometimes another.

The Signs of Aſcarides are a continual Itching in the Fundament, cauſing Faintings, and ſometimes Swoonings; the Itching proceeds from the Motion of theſe Worms, and the quick Senſe of the Part where they lye.

The Signs of the Taenia, or Tape Worm, are Laſſitude, and Faintings after Meat; frequent Numbneſs and Dulneſs in the Daytime, which cauſe an Heavineſs above the Navel, tho' theſe may proceed from other Cauſes.

The Signs of the Cucurbitini are little Bodies, like the Seeds of Cucumers or Melons, found in the Excrements; I ſuppoſe they are the young Brood not yet link'd together. Both Hippocrates and Ariſtotle mention theſe as certain Signs; to which may be added ſhifting Pains of the Liver, accompany'd with great Fluxes of Spittle; Pains in the Stomach ſucceed thoſe of the Liver by Intervals, and ſometimes attended with tedious Pains in the Back.

Some Obſervations from Baglivi.

When Children are obſerv'd to rub their Bellies very much, 'tis a Sign of Worms; eſpecially if they are often grip'd.

Very often it happens, that Perſons are ſuddenly, and without any apparent Cauſe or Signs of any other Diſtemper, reduc'd to the extreameſt Danger, like the Aſſault of an Apoplexy, with Coldneſs of the extream Parts, a creeping Pulſe (which is moſt commonly a Sign of Worms, as is alſo the Hiccough) Swooning, and ſometimes a ſudden Madneſs; in ſuch a Caſe we ought to ſuſpect Worms, and to preſcribe accordingly.

Bleeding by Drops, in continual Fevers, from the Noſtrils, is ſometimes a Sign of Worms, as very Judicious Authors have aſſerted.

Whenever there is the leaſt Cauſe to ſuſpect Worms, by no Means defer the Adminiſtration of Remedies; for they often occaſion ſudden Death to grown Perſons, as well as to Children or Infants.

Whatever Diſtemper Children are troubled with, Worms, are always to be ſuſpected; for either they immediately encreaſe the Diſeaſe, or by Reaſon of its Continuance, the Seeds of Worms are hatch'd into Life, and fill the Bowels with that peſtiferous Vermine.

CHAP. IV. Of the Remedies for the Destroying of Worms.

And they are,

1. EXternal Applications, as Fomentations, Cataplaſms, Ointments, Plaſters, all which are not a little beneficial; For as Dr. Fuller obſerves, Worms do ſo ſecurely burrow, and intrench themſelves in the Foldings and Cavities of the Bowels, as to eſcape and elude the Impreſſion of Purging, or other Medicines; for which Reaſon outward Applications are very uſeful to diſturb them from their lurking Places, and ſo expoſe them to the Attacks of Internals, which may deſtroy, and expel them.

2. Internal Adminiſtrations, which by a ſpecifick Quality, diſturb and kill them; the Forms of theſe are various as Liquors, Syrups, Powders, Boluſſes, Pills, &c. whereof ſome are Purgative, others not; in the Uſe of which Dr. Andry recommends the following Obſervations.

That the beſt Time to take them is in the Wain of the Moon; he confeſſes, he look'd upon this at firſt as an idle Fancy, but that his Experience convinc'd him of his Miſtake.

That in the Adminiſtration of Remedies for the Worms, there ought to be due Intermiſſions; leſt being too vigorouſly attack'd, they ſhou'd retire into the Cavity of the Gut-Colon, where they wou'd be very much out of the reach of Medicines.

As for Gliſters, they are obſerv'd to be very uſeful, and they are of two general Kinds; Sweet and Bitter.

The Latter are of great Efficacy againſt the Aſcarides; which (as Dr. Fuller obſerves) are a ſmall, but an almoſt invincible Nation; for tho' you ſhou'd waſh away all by one Gliſter, yet a new and numberleſs Off-ſpring will quickly diſcover themſelves, being produc'd of the Seed of the former, depoſited in the Rectum; ſo that 'twill not be ſufficient to have expell'd the Parents, unleſs their Poſterity be alſo vigorouſly proſecuted and deſtroy'd; this may be done, if after the Aſcarides diſappear, we do not preſently deſiſt, but repeat theſe bitter Injections for ſome time, once in two or three Days at firſt, and afterwards once a Week.

But for the Teretes, or long and round Worms, theſe bitter Injections are by no Means proper, ſo long as they are brisk, lively and agile, and inclin'd to get up into the Stomach, or ſmall Guts, leſt being driven upon thoſe Parts, they ſhou'd occaſion a great deal of Miſchief there; but after the Uſe of other Medicines, which have made them Sickly, and thruſt them down, the Exhibition of ſuch Gliſters may be very ſeaſonable and ſucceſsful.

The ſweet Gliſters made of Milk, Sugar, &c. are convenient before the Uſe of the Bibber ones, when the Worms are lurking in the ſmall Guts, where, by gnawing and tearing the Bowels, they excite violent Pains in the Belly; for the Worms take to the Milk, being pleaſant and agreeable to them, and ſo leave off preying on the Bowels, and are alſo entic'd out of their Burrows, and following the agreeable Liquor, are diſpos'd to come away by Stool.

A View of ſome of the most celebrated Remedies.

Dr. Simon Pauli's Worm Powder, which expell'd a great Number of the Cucurbitini.

℞ C. C. rad filic. a ʒ ij Corallin. ſem ſancton. a ʒ j Myrrh lig. Al. fl. Sulph. a ʒ ſſ. Nitri. ʒ iij M. f. Pulvis doſ. ʒ j.

Dr. Nic. Andry's Powder, which brought away that large Chain of Cucurbitini, and cur'd the Patient of a Pleuriſy, mention'd Page 16.

℞ Diagryd. Crem. Tart. Diaphor. Miner. Rhab. rad. filicis faemin. a ʒ ſs Tanacet fol. & fl. p. i. Cort. rad Mori. ʒ j M. f. Pulv. in juſculo pingui mane, jejuno Ventriculo exhibendus.

Electuarium Vermifugum.

℞ Succ. Menth. & Trifol. fibrin a ℥ij Rutae & Marrhubij albi a ℥j coq. leviter cum Sacch. alb. lbj & deſpumentur tum adde Corallin. & ſ. Tanacet ac ſancton a ℥ſs Cinnam & Cardamom min. a ℥ij Cort. Citr. condit. lbſs & f. Elect.

Scharff's Eſſence for Worms, which expell'd a Worm of a very great Thickneſs.

℞ Herb. Abrotan, Scordij Tanacet a Mj. Rad dictam filicis Zedoar. a lbſs fl Centuar Mj. Perſicor p. ij Corallin ℥iſs. ſ. Sancton. Coriand. a ʒ vj Bacc. Junip. ℥ij Myrrh. Theriac. a ℥ſs. Conciſ. Contuſ. infunde in S. q. Sp. Juniper rectif. Tinctum quod eſt ſeparetur; Novus Sp. affundatur; conjunctis liquoribus addendo Sp. C. C. ſale volatili impregnati ℥ij. f. Eſſentia.

A Fomentation by Dr. Fuller.

℞ Rad Aristoloch. rot. ℥j Herb. Abſ. vulg. Abrotan. faem. Tanacet Sabin. a Mj. Helleborast. Mſs. Pulp. Colocynth. Aloes. a ʒ j f Dec. in aq lbiij ad lbij col. pro fotu ope ſtupharum Abdominis regioni calide uſurpando.

After uſing this Stupe or Fomentation, the following Pultice may be laid on the Navel.

℞ Ther. Ven. Farin. Lupin. a ʒ iij ſem Sancton ʒ iſs hier pier. ʒ ſs Ol. Abſinth. Still. gt. xvj ſucc. Tanacet. aſ. F. Cataplaſma

Or this Plaiſter.

℞ Aloes ℥ij Ol. Abſ. chym. gt. viij-cum fell. bov. aſ. F. Maſſa quae ſuper Alutam ducta Ʋmbilico applicetur.

A Bitter Gliſter to expel and kill the Aſcarides, from Dr. Fuller.

℞ Rad. ſerp. V. ʒ j Colocynth. ℈j Herb Tanacet Sabinae a Mſſ. f. decoctio in aq. F. qſ. col. ℥vj adde Ol. Hyperic. ℥ſſ. Ol. Abſ. Chym. ʒ ſſ. ſp. Hier picr. ℈ſſ. M.

The ſame may be us'd for the other Sorts of Worms, but then others made of Milk ought to preceed, for Reaſons before-mention'd. Dr. Fuller gives the following for this Purpoſe.

℞ Lact. Vaccin. rec. ℥vj Theriac Januenſ. ℥ij M.

The Honourable Mr. Boyle, in his Treatiſe of Specifick Medicines, commends Small Beer frequently ſhaken with good Quickſilver, as an excellent Remedy to kill Worms; the Quickſilver communicating its Virtue, without changing the Colour or Taſte of the Liquor.

The Aethiops Minerable has been generally obſer'd to have very happy Effects; Dr. Harris, in his Treatiſe of Children's Diſeaſes, relates an extraordinary Cure perform'd by that Medicine, as follows.

J. P. A Boy of Thirteen Years of Age, was ſo pin'd away with a Conſumption by Worms, as it prov'd, that he was more like a Skelaton, than a living Perſon; his Eyes hollow, his Noſe ſharp, and his Bones only cover'd with Skin; he became ſenſeleſs, and ſo weak, that he could ſcarce crawl from one Side of the Room to the other with the Swiftneſs of a Snail; all his Excrements by Urine and Stool, fell involuntarily from him. By taking the foreſaid Medicine twice a Day for ſome Time, and gently Purging every fourth Day without Rhubarb, he voided a great many Worms, and recover'd perfectly well.

Such, whoſe Curioſity leads them to enquire more fully after Inſtances of this Nature, may conſult the elaborate Works of Dr. Nicholas Andry, and Dr. Daniel Clerc, who have treated very largely on this Subject.