The coat of erecting the Liverpool workhouse, which is the largest, amounted to upwards of 120,0001. Some of the smaller workhouses coat as low as 15001. buildiug, but taking them altogether, the average cost of each may be stated 'at about 80001.; so that, there being 708 workhouses, the total cost of these buildings may be taken as repre senting the sum of five millions and a half (exclusive of interest), which sum was raised by loans secured upon the poor-rates, repayable by annual instalments, including interest, in periods varying from ten to twenty years.
Further on the subject of the poor-law statistics the reader is referred to the paper on the ' English Poor-Rate; by Mr. Frederick The tape-worms of the lower animals have the same origin with those of man, and their history has now been traced in a large number of animals. Thus, the dog is liable to the attacks of a tripe-worm (Thetis The egg of the T. canurus, on being swallowed by the sheep, produces a cystic worm in its brain, which has long been known by the name of etenttrus certbralis. This worm produces the " staggers "in the sheep ; and when dogs get access to the brains of sheep under these circumstances they produce the Tania ccenunts. The cat is liable to a tape-worm called Tcenia crussicollis. the cystic stage of which is found in the liver of the rat or mouse, and is known to naturalists under the name of Cysticcrcus fusci”laris. Even the Trematode worms pass through stages of this kind, and the Cercceria of the mussel becomes the Distoma of the sheep.
A question of some interest has been raised as to whether we ought to regard these parasites as necessarily connected with a diseased state of the body, and therefore to he got rid of at any cost. It is a curious fact with regard to tape-worms and neuratoid worms, that they will exist for years without producing any inconvenience. By the Abyssinians they are regarded as indicative of health, and a negro slave among them is valued higher for it. It is often observed that persons who must have been the subjects of tape and other worms for a long time past do not suffer till they become aware of the existence of these creatures. At the same time there can be no doubt that certain states of the health favour the excessive development both of the immature and mature states of the various species of worm, and that they then become sources of serious inconvenience. The symp toms attributed to the presence of tape-worms are very numerous.
Kiichentneister, in his work on the Parasites of Man' (translated for the Sydenham Society by Dr. Lankester), gives the following account of symptoms observed in 100 cases in which tape-worms were known to exist :-68 suffered from cerebro-spinal affections and partial or general convulsions ; 49 from nausea, sometimes with vomiting and fainting; 42 with pains in the abdomen ; 33 from disordered digestion; 31 from irregular and voracious appetite ; 19 from headache ; 17 from colic ; lfl from abdominal movements ; 15 from dizziness ; 11 from shifting pains. It will at once be seen that none of them can be pro
nounced as undoubted symptoms of worms, as they may all result from other kinds of disorder. The only distinguishing sign that can be relied on without doubt, is the discharge of the proglottides, or portions of the worm, from the bowels. These being witnessed, the case is certain.
The remedies recommended for ceatoid and other worms are very numerous. When the general health is bad it should be improved.
There are, however, certain remedies which act in an especial manner on the worm in the intestines which should always be administered. These are called anthelmiotics. [Arrussutxrtcs.] Most of these act is two ways :-1. They destroy the worm, and act as helminthi cides. 2. They expel it when dead or enfeebled, and thus act as pur gatives. The best of these is oil of turpentine. It has been used ex tensively in Great Britain ; and Kfichenmeister, whose authority is great on this subject, says—" It is certainly one of the most energetic remedies against tape-worm, and justly merits application in those cases in which pomegranate-bark has produced no result." It is a very? disagreeable remedy, producing sometimes serious effects in the nervous system and sometimes strangury. Consequently medical men try other remedies first. Of these, konpo, male fern, pomegranate-bark, and carnelea, are preferred. lioupo has undoubtedly proved of ser vice. but liSichennicister says he has always been more or less unlucky with this remcsly. The male fern is also useful The decoction of the root, the low•derecl sort, or etherial-oil, are given. Rapp says by far the most efficient form is the fresh root.
Kuchenmeister gives the preference to pomegranate bark. He uses a thick extract of the bark, and says he " prefers it to all other remedies against tape-worm." It dislodges, he says, the head pf the worm more effectually than any other remedy.
For a good abstract of the present state of knowledge with regard to tape-worms in man, see an Essay on this subject by Dr. D. F. IVeinland, published at Cambridge, U.S., 185S.
W ItsT ED MANUFACTURE. (WooLsEN AND WORSTED MaNn F CTuaa) WORT. [lItirsvisfs]