264

WORMS.

,*

The above directions are intended for adults ; but for childrenthe medicines must be more agreeable, and in smaller doses. Fora child of four or five years old, six grains of rhubarb, five of jalap,and two of calomel, may be mixed in a spoonful of syrup or hon-ey, and given in the morning. The child should keep the houseall day, and take nothing cold. This dose may be repeated twicea-wcek for three or four weeks. On the intermediate days, thechild may take a scruple of powdered tin, and ten grains of œthi-ops mineral, in a spoonful of treacle, twice a-day. This dose mustbe increased or diminished, according to the age of the patient, orthe form annexed below.*

Bisset says, the great bastard black hellebore, or bear's foot, isa most powerful vermifuge for the long round worms. He ordersthe decoction of about a drachm of the green leaves, or about fif-teen grains of the dried leaves in powder, for a dose to a child be-tween four and seven years of age. This dose is to be repeatedtwo or three times. He adds, that the green leaves made intoa syrup with coarse sugar is almost the only medicine he hasused for round worms for three years past. Before pressing outthe juice, he moistens the bruised leaves with vinegar, which cor-rects the medicine. The dose is a tea-spoonful at bed-time, andone or two next morning.

I have frequently known those big bellies, which in children arecommonly reckoned a sign of worms, quite removed by givingthem white soap in their pottage, or other food. Tansy, garlic,and rue, are all good against worms, and may be used variousways. - We might here mention many other plants, both for exter-nal and internal use, as the cabbage-bark, fee., but think the fil-ings of tin with aethiops mineral, and the purges of rhubarb andcalomel, are more to be depended on.

Ball's purging vermifuge powder is a very powerful medicine.It is made of equal parts of rhubarb, scammony, and calomel, withas much double-refined sugar as is equal to the weight of all theother ingredients. These must be well mixed together, and reduc-ed to a fine powder. The dose for a child is from ten grains totwenty, once or twice a-week. An adult may take a drachm fora dose.

A powder for the tape-worm, resembling this, called MadameNouffer's powder (the name of the proprietor,)! was long kept a«ecret on the Continent : it was lately purchased by the Trenchking.

Parents who would preserve their children from worms ought toallow them plenty of exercise in the open air ; to take care thattheir food be wholesome and sufficiently solid ; and, as far as pos-sible, to prevent their eating raw herbs, roots, or green trashyfruits. It will not be amiss to allow a child who is subject to

* Take Powdered Tin, 3 ounces.

Confection of Hips, 3 drachms.

Simple Syrup, enough to make an electu-ary dose of the size of a nutmeg, in themorning.

t Take Male Fern Root, in Powder.

2 to 3 drms.

JVlint Water, 4 ounces.

To be*taken fasting in the morning, anti

two hours after, the following bolus :Take Submuriate of Mercury, 5 or fi grs.Gamboge, in Powder, 6 to 10 grsDrinking often a cupful of the infusion ofgreen tea.