The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-08
Depart
By DR.. WellSman
Intestinal Parasites
The Nematodes
Or Round Worms

OF the many species of parasites
worms it is fortunate that only a COM
paratively few varieties are found in
human beings. Of these the Round
Worms, and the Tape Worms, are by
far the commonest species. The
round worms may be sub-divided
broadly into two families, the round
worm or stomach worms, and the
thread, or seat worms.
The first-named species resembles
very closely in appearance the COM
mon earth worm, being pinkish-white
or red-brown in color, and varies in
length from to 10 inches, according
to sex. Ordinarily, they inhabit the
smaller intestine, but frequently wan
der up into the stomach, where the
disturbance due to their movements
causes them to be vomited; hence
they derive the familiar name Stom-
ach Worms.
While most frequently found in
children, they are often the unsus-
pected cause of obscure digestive dis
turbances in adults, and the possibil-
ity of their presence should always be
taken into account when treating
stomach disorders.
The eggs of the round worm gain
access to the human system through
contaminated food or water and are
Matched out and the young worms
pass into the intestine where they de-
velop to their full size in about five
weeks.
The symptoms produced by Round
Worms, while characteristic, are also
sometimes similar to those caused by
other digestive disturbances and for
that reason are not always recognized
as arising from intestinal worms
1t is believed by scientists that the
mere presence of the worms is not
the cause of the many disturbing SYM
ptoms that are observed, but that they
are due to some poisonous secretion
emitted by the worms which, being
absorbed into the system, cause a va
riety of more or less alarming re-
suits.
In the case Of children these may
manifest themselves in severe nervous
disturbances, such as epileptiform
commissions, grinding the teeth and
restless sleep, disturbances of vision,
abdominal pains, capricious appetite,
itching Of the eyes, nose and fingers,
and so forth. 1t is therefore we'll for
the parent of a child suffering from
any of the foregoing symptoms to de-
termine. before jumping at the con-
clusion that the child has epilepsy or
defective eyes, or is just bad tenn
pered and irritable, whether or not it
is suffering from some form of in
testinal parasites.
If any Of the above symptoms are
noted, or if the child seems poorly and
listless, without any apparent reason
lncnc IN, 80 r11
full diet, notwithstanding that it seems
otherwise quite normal, then, make
every effort to find out if the child
is not suffering from worms. This
can usually be determined by one of
three ways: The most positive is the
discovery of the passage of a worm or
worms, either alive or dead Another
indication is the presence of masses
of mucus in the stools, which will u.s.
ually be found upon minute examina-
ton under magnifying glass to con-
tain the tiny eggs of the worm. An
other way>the third, while not so con-
elusive, is nevertheless valuable: This
consists in administering laxcarin. If
worms exist the increased amount of
mucus passed at first will be noted
and the improved condition of the
child, will be the best indication of
the efficacy of the treatment
In correcting hypei-acidity, in as
sisting in the assimilation of the nu-
tritive elements of the food eaten, and
in the general toning up of the diges-
tive organs and processes, laxcarin
will be found most valuable
"Laxcarin is sold by the Laxcarin
Products Co., Dept. E-94, Pittsburgh,
Penna. Price per box one dollar, full
treatment six boxes five dollars. Will
be sent postpaid upon receipt Of cash,
money orders or stamps" Substitutes
must be refused ADV