Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: intestinal parasites

  • Of vermicide and vermifuge: A history of intestinal parasites at sea

    Richard de GrijsSydney, Australia When the UK’s National Archives launched the Surgeons at Sea project,1 many media outlets focused on one outlandish claim from the curators’ summary of highlights. In June 1825, twelve-year-old Ellen McCarthy was on board the Elizabeth from Cork (Ireland) to Quebec (Canada) when the ship’s surgeon reported that she Complained yesterday…