Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

622

Materia Medica

Anthelmintics

being too small as I think much larger may be given, it should be given in a little syrup or molasses as the taste is verry unpleasant.

Calomel & Aloes. We come now to speak of those medicines adapted to the cure of Ascarides. Calomel and Aloes given as Cathartics also Enemeta of various substances, as Ʒi [1 dram] of alloes in 1 lb of warm water, lime water, Olive Oil which acts by suffocating them, Common Salt, an infusion of Tobacco, a Solution of Assafoetida, or Hepar Sulphuris. Dr Kuhn is much in the habit of using enemeta and says he has seldom fail'd with one or either of these substances. I prefer the solution of Common Salt, after using the injection some time an active purge of Calomel should be given to remove them.

Polypodium Felix. Or Male Fern, has been used a long time in the cure of Tenea. The symptoms indicating their presence are a constant gnawing pain about the stomach, the dose of the powder is from Ʒi to Ʒiij [1 to 3 drams] taken in a little syrup, and a strong purge given after it has been repeated three or four times. A case is related of one worm 45 feet long being discharged by it, it formed the base of Madame Noufers vermifuge powder wich Louis XVI gave so much for

Dilochos Pruriens. Or Cowhage has been given