The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-11
Intestinal
Parasites
TAPE WORMS
The Beef Tape Worm
The Pork Tape Worm
BY Or. WeIIsman

There are several species OF tape
worm which inhabit the human diges-
tive system, but only two species are
commonly found in man: The Beef
OF these two varieties, the Beef
Worm is by far the commoner in this
country while the Pork Worm, though
very rare in the United States. is quite
common in some parts of Europe.
The tape-worm is an entirely differ
ent form Of parasite from any other
worm. and in order to understand
these differences short study of its
life history is necessary. When the
egg of tape-worm is passed from its
original carrier it finds itself either
floating about in water or deposited
on the ground or vegetable growth. As
it is extremely tenacious Of life, it
manages to exist until 1t is swallowed
with the food or water of either cat
tie or hogs, as the case may be. In
the stomach of it's host" it matches
out as a larva, which bores through
the walls Of the intestine and finds its
way into the muscular tissues. There
itself a small bladder-like cyst. When
the flesh so infected is eaten by man,
without sufficient cooking to destroy
the Solex, as it is called, the bladder
g.
Solex or head" attaches itself to the
walls OF the small intestine. Strictly
speaking, the Solex is not the head
Of a worm. but a complete worm in it
self and from it developes series
Of other worms. attached to each 9th
er in the form of links, like a flatten-
ed chain. Each link is a separate
animal, comprising both sexes in one
body. and capable Of producing their
kind. At first, when the links are
close TO the Solex, they are very small
and appear almost thread-like. but as
successive links are formed they be
come larger in every way, until they
are finally fully developed and meas
ure from one-quarter to three-eighths
Of an inch long by one-half 20 three
quarters of an inch broad. 1t requires
about twelve weeks for the tape-worm
to fully develop. If it is possible TO
examine carefully a complete. fully
developed tape-worm, one will find at
the upper end, first, the small. round
ish Solex, or head, about the size of a
pin head. then an inch or more Of slen-
der, hair-like links forming the So
called neck" and then the segments.
gradually increasing in width and
length until at the lower end they are
nearly or quite square. The shape OF
these links changes in the various
younger being broader than long, and
the fully developed being longer then
they are broad. In length the Beef
Worm may measure thirty feet, and
occasionally one is removed entire
that will exceed that in length; but
the Pork Worm is much smaller, and
is usually less than fifteen feet from
end to end The same treatment is
used for both species.
The tape-worm has no digestive Or
gans whatever, and receives its nour-
ishment from the contents of the
bowel In which 1t lives. When only
partially developed 1t is not apt to
cause any unpleasant symptoms and
its presence Is usually detected by &C
cident; but when more fully grown it
makes itself known by a number OF
and distressing disturb
ances. There Is usually a ravenous
and capricious appetite with a craving
for strange mixtures Of food, a sense
feeling that something is crawling IN
ones bowels. and frequently feeling
Of exhaustion and numbness OF the
arms and legs. A positive proof OF the
existence of tape-worm is the passage
Of links or connected segments, a con-
ditfon which will exist If the worm has
reached sufficient size to cause the
other more Indefinite symptoms.
Laxcarin has been found a very eff
ficient destroyer of both types Of tape
In order to experience the
above referred to symptoms, you may
be sure that there is something wrong
If they are not caused by
the tape-worms, perhaps their cause
might be either constipation or other
disorders. At any rate 1t is
safe to assume that Laxcarin will help
10 remedy these conditions. For tape
worms 1t has been found advisable to
abstain from all food during the day
previous to taking Laxcarin. The OBJ
ject Of doing this is to remove ali food
and protective covering from the worm
and give the Laxcarin an opportunity
20 act effectively. The following
the Laxcarin is taken on an
empty stomach. When the worm has
been passed it should be carefully
washed from other matter and exam
ned thoroughly. If. when the fine
hair-like end is examined a round
is seen, then 1t will be
known that the head has been re->
moved.
Laxcarin is sold by the Lazcara.
Products Co., Dept. E-94, Pittsburgh,
penna. Price per box one dollar, full
treatment six boxes five dollars viii