a. and sb. Med. [a. F. vermifuge (= It., Sp., Pg. vermifugo), or ad. mod.L. type *vermifugus, f. L. vermi-s worm: see -FUGE.]
A. adj. Causing or promoting the evacuation or expulsion of worms or other animal parasites from the intestines; anthelmintic.
In some instances perh. an attributive use of the sb.
1697. in Mem. Rokeby (Surtees), 58. Vermifuge pills, a box 3s. 4d.
1769. E. Bancroft, Guiana, 54. Their vermifuge quality … justly intitles them to particular attention.
1803. Med. Jrnl., IX. 468. The physician had suspected the presence of worms, and prescribed vermifuge medicines accordingly.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Sindhooka, Sinduya, vernacular names in India for the Vitex Negundo, the fruit of which is considered vermifuge.
1876. Bristowe, The. & Pract. Med. (1878), 711. The administration of vermifuge drugs.
B. sb. A medicament or substance having the power or property of expelling worms from the intestines; an anthelmintic.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp. (1719), 110. It is used hardly in any other Intention in Medicine, than as a Vermifuge.
1763. Phil. Trans., LIII. 14. Vermifuges of the most celebrated kind,… and such other medicines as tend … to carry off or destroy the worms, were assiduously administered.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), I. 364. In the former [class of anthelmintics] we may rank … all the oleaginous vermifuges, as oil of olives, beech-nuts, castor, and turpentine [etc.].
1843. Youatt, Horse, xiii. (1847), 292. Arsenic was once in great repute as a tonic and vermifuge.
1871. Garrod, Mat. Med. (ed. 3), 404. Anthelmintics are employed for the following purposes:—… 2. The indirect, or vermifuges, to expel any worms, living or dead.
