Tape worm, pork.-(Taenia Solium).  It is six to twelve feet long, but it is not a common form in this country.  The head is small, round, not so large as the head of a pin and provided with four sucking ducts and a double row of hooklets.  By these hooklets and disks, the parasite attaches itself to the mucous membrane of the small intestine in man.  Below the head is a constricted neck, which is followed by a large number of segments, increasing in size from the neck onward.  Each segment contains the generative organs of both sexes.  The parasite (worm) becomes fully grown in three to three and one-half months.  Segments then continually break off and are discharged at stool.  Each ovum (egg) contains a single embryo, armed with six hooklets and contained in a thick shell.  When swallowed by a pig or man these shells are digested and the embryos migrate (travel) to various parts of the body, where they change to Cysticerci or “Measles.”  Each contains a scolex or tape-worm.  When meat, improperly cooked and containing “measles,” is eaten, the cyst is dissolved in the human stomach and the free scolex or head attaches itself to the intestinal mucous membrane and grows into a tapeworm.

Tape worm, beef.—­(Taenia Saginata).  This is a larger and longer parasite than the Pork Tape Worm.  It is the common form found in this country.  It may grow fifteen to twenty feet or more and possesses a large head in comparison with the Taenia Solium.  It is square shaped and has four large sucking disks, but no hooklets.  The ripe segments are larger and they are passed as in the Taemia Solium, and are eaten by cattle, in the flesh or organs of which the eggs develop into the Cysticerci.

[Animal parasites 49]

Symptoms.—­These worms (parasites) are found at all ages.  They are not uncommon in children, and may be found in nursing children.  They may cause excessive appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain or sometimes anemia.  The knowledge of the presence of this worm may cause great nervousness or depression.  The presence of the segment in the stools proves their presence in the bowels.

Treatment, preventive.—­This is most important.  Careful attention should be given to three points:  First, all tapeworm segments should be burned.  They should never be thrown into the water-closet or outside; secondly, special inspection of all meat; and, thirdly, cooking the meat sufficiently to kill the parasites.

Mothers’ remedies.—­1.  Tape Worms, Pumpkin Seed Tea for.—­“One pint pumpkin seeds skinned and steeped.  Add water enough to make three tumblers.  Take one tumbler every half hour, then a good dose of castor oil.  The worm will come with oil.  My mother helped prepare the seeds and saw the tapeworm which came from a woman as a result of this dose.”

2.  Tape Worms, Another good Remedy for.—­

“Powdered Kamala   3 drams
Syrup simple       3 ounces

Two doses of this mixture hardly ever fails to bring the worm.  Give oil and turpentine two hours after the last dose.”  Of the oil and turpentine an average dose would be a half ounce of castor oil and fifteen drops of turpentine.