Filix Mas

Male Fern. Filices.

" Galen, Theophrastns, and Avicenna speak of it as a vermifuge medicine^ Dioscorides adds to this its capability to induce sterility and abortion."

Fragmentary provings by Berridge, Med. Inv., N. S., vol. 3, p. 282.

The tincture must be prepared from the fresh root; "old preparations and tinctures won't do. The best time for curing tapeworm is, therefoie, tlie summer season, when the root of Filix mas may be obtahied in a fresh state. It is grated and taken in the course of the forenoon, to the amount of an ounce. Usually in the afternoon, the tapeworm, rolled up in a lump, takes its depurlure." (A. H.. Z., 80, p. 141.) *

Clinical Authorities. — Tape-icorm, (100 ra-es repoited), B. J. H., vol. 22, p. 322; (24 cases), Ogle, B. J. H., vol. 23, p. 273; (2 ctses), Lobetli, Riick. Kl. Erf., vol. 1, p. 804; Miiller, Etick. Kl. Erf., vol. 5, p. 388 ; Worms, Werber, Riick.. Kl. Erf., vol. 1, p. 804.

^ Mind. I Irritable and cross. ^ Worms. Great anxiety ; loss of consciousness. " Smell and Nose, i Itching of nose. ^Worms. ^ Upper Face. iPale face; blue rings around eyes. ^Worms.. " Taste and Tongue. Furred tongue. ^ Worms. ^^ Appetite, Thirst. Desires, Aversions. bLoss of appetite.

^ Worms. ^^ Eating and Drinking. Coffee > the numbness in r. arm. ^^ Hiccough, Belching, Nausea and Vomiting. Painless hiccough, starts 10 minutes after meal, lasting 15 to 30- minutes. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. ^^ Hypochondria.

Tightness in 1. hypochondrium, extending forward to middle line, causing difficulty of breathing,, in a warm room, in the evening after sunset; > walk- ing in open air; kept her awake in bed till 1 a.m., on awaking next morning, the same; > after a Turkish, bath. ^^ Abdomen. Bloating of abdomen.

Kinawing and boring in bowels, < eating sweet things. Abdominal pains. ^ Stool and Rectum. Ineffectual urging to stool. Pappy stools.

iGnawing and boring in bowels, < eating sweet things; constipation ; loss of appetite ; furred tongue ; pale face ;;

S27 FILIX MAS.

blue rings around eyes ; itching of nose ; irritable and cross. ^Worms. ■ Symptoms indicative of worms, particularly when consti- pation is present. I A woman who had repeatedly passed segments of tape- worm was seized with severe colic which quickly disap- peared under Filix mas, and was followed eight days later by discharge of tape-worm, 50 inches in length. ^^ Female Sexual Organs. Menstrual function stimulated. 2i Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation. Causes abortion.

I I Sterility. ^^ Upper Limbs. Numbness of back of r. wrist, extending up radial side of arm to just above elbow ; felt as if the use of the limb would go ; then the same feeling in 1. wrist, but transient and slighter; afterwards the same in a small spot on r. vertex, rather anteriorly ; afterward in anterior r. shoulder ; the numbness seemed to be in the bone in every case. ^^ Sleep. Restless and sleepless at night.

^ Time. Evening after sunset: tightness of 1. hypochondrium. ^^ Temperature and Weather. Warm room : tightness of 1. hypochondrium. Open air: > tightness of hypochondrium. Turkish bath : > tightness of 1. hypochondrium. ■"* Fever ilWorm fever.

^' Attacks, Periodicity. 15 or 30 minutes: hiccough. ^^ Locality and Direction. Right : numbness in arm ; numb- ness of wrist, extending up arm ; numbness in small spot on vertex ; numbness in shoulder. Left hypochondrium: tightness in ; wrist numb. *^ Sensations. As if the use of the limb would go. Abdominal pains. Gnawing: in bowels. Boring : in bowels. Tightness : of 1. hypochondrium. Bloating : of abdomen. Numbness : of r. arm ; of back ; of r. wrist, extending up

arm ; 1. wrist ; r. vertex ; r. shoulder. Itching : of nose. *'' Stages of Life, Constitution. A large majority of the pa- tients cured were young girls or women.

FLUOEICUM ACIDUM. 328