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A Study of the Anthelmintic Efficiency of Higuerolatex in the Treatment of Trichuriasis, with Comment as to its Effectiveness against Ascaris Infestation^*

1. Because of the widespread distribution of trichuris, its undoubted pathogenicity in severe infestations and its probable harmfulness even when harbored in lesser numbers, treatment for this parasite is important.

2. It has been well established that the anthelmintics usually employed in the treatment of worm infestations are as a general rule inefficient against trichuris.

3. Leche de higueron, the fresh latex of the fig, Ficus laurifolia, has been effectively used by the indigenes of South America against helminths, including trichuris, and has been recommended by a number of investigators.

4. A preparation of the sap of Ficus laurifolia, higuerolatex, kept cool in dark bottles for almost a year before use, was found by us to be highly efficient in the treatment of both trichuriasis and ascariasis.

A. In the treatment of nine patients in 1927 with slightly more than 30 cc. of the drug, and 117 patients in 1928 with 60 cc., reduction in egg output of 89.5 per cent and 85.4 per cent respectively was obtained in the two series, with 22.2 per cent of the patients cured in the first group and 53.8 per cent in the larger one. The variation in percentages of cures in the differing intensity groups (A, 74.5; B, 46.0; C, 32.7; and DE, 0.0 per cent) suggests that two treatments should be given to remove practically all worms.

B. The results obtained in treating an equal number of patients with oil of chenopodium are in accord with the findings of others as to the inefficiency of this drug in general oral treatment. Only 17 per cent reduction was observed in egg output and only 1.7 per cent of the patients was freed from worms.

C. In the group treated with higuerolatex, the ascaris egg output of 37 patients infested with this parasite, was reduced by 89.7 per cent, and 70.3 per cent of the patients was presumably cured. This compares favorably with the results obtained with an equal number of ascaris infested patients in the group treated with chenopodium, in which 83.2 per cent reduction was obtained in egg output, and a larger percentage of the patients (83.8) was cured. The marked specificity of oil of chenopodium in ascaris infestation is emphasized by results for a group of 27 patients treated with 2 cc. of this drug in 1927: the egg output of these patients was reduced 94.9 per cent, and 92.2 per cent of cures was obtained.

^* Study carried out at the Field Research Laboratory, of the International Health Division of the Rockefeller Foundation, at Andalusia, Alabama.