, 1866-02-13

Cause ana Preventtve-Research OF
Medical Men In this Country and


Since this disease Trichiniasis, or flesh
wom disease, now somewhat epidemic In
Prussia, Is In the public prints, allow me to
gire In your journal brief description oft.
The Tnchina spira1la is IN extremely minute
nenutode Aelusinh {nen1a eidos e'naess) =
thread-like worm, the fully developed male
Of which Is oneeighteenth Of an inch long,
while perfectly developed female Is ona-
eighth of an inch in length. The body Ia
rounded and fillform, slightly bent upon
ussn rather thicker behind than In front.
The Trichipn, originally discovered by Prof
Owen, Of London, in q portion Of human
muscle, represent the larval condition Of the
adult nematode above described, OF In other
words, these little worms were the wandering
brood Of a moro highly organic nematode. :.
Prof. Leukart states the larval trichtnn to
measure one twenty fifth Of IN inch In length,
with transverse diameter Of about one~slt-
gentleman also AYERS that the number Of lar
val trichinn IN one bearer, assuming the bearer
to be man weighing one hundred and forty
pounds, may ut one time amount to twenty
millions.
The Professor has, perhaps, experimental
more carefully with them on various animals
than any other gentleman, and has examined,
A<%hA
IN the human subject.
The larral tric1iaR attain their naturity In
less than forty eight hours after their Intro.
duction into new bearer. In six days the
female parasites will contain perfectly deVel-
oped free embryos.
Not only pigs and rabbits are subject to
them> hut carnivora, as the dog, cut, dc, and
ruminants, also, IS the horse, OF md sheep.
As soon as the embryos hare attained their
full size, they commence wandering On their
own account, and penetrate directly through
the Intestinal walls in all directions, until
they arrive within the various voluntary
muscles Of the host.
!. The adult ItichIna will perish In short
time subsequent 10 the disease Of the host N
which they dwell while, on tho other hand,
Ia the larya1 state they are capable OF retain
lug their vitality long after the death OF the
bearer,
Dayaine's experiments prove concluslrely
host above six hours but the larEse will live
a long time in flesh which has undergone pu.
tretaction. In this way, Dr.. pavatne suggesta
the debris OF animals affected by these para
sites may become fatal TO rpdants, or q car
case near marsh or riVulet may communi-
cate them to the rumiuants which drink the
water, or to pigs; for, In the last named
bearers the trfchfnD seem most liable to take
up their abode. Thus, It Is easy to under
therefore subject to the febrile helminthic dIs-
order, Trichiniasls.
These are somo d the facts connected With
the genesis and development Of this minute
parasite. Dr.. q. J. Dowditch, Of Boston,
Mass, in 1sl2, '43 and n reported four cases
OF Trich}niasfs, In the Boston Medical and
Surgical Journal.
Tue disease being more prevalent In Prus-
sia md Germany, Is explained BY. the fact
that the otherwise abstemlous Inhabitants
display remarkable tondness for raw chop
ped pork.
It is affirmed, by those qualified to judge,
that trichlnn appear IN pigs Of all races.
The signs OF thIs disease ia the animal are
loss Of appetite, q hoarse voice, quietness,
| and aversion 10 ali kinds Of movement.
In attempting to ,rnn the function is al
tended With dragging Of the extremitses.
This disease, thus far, has not been very
fatal, pet the per centage Of fatal cases Is not
Tie symptoms OF the affection are very
we'll described by Drs- Bochler and Koemgs-
doeffer, Of P1uen, Central sa1ouy, as fol-
ut begins with sense of prostration-
attended with extreme pafufnlness OF the
limbs and After these have lasted several
days an enormous swelling superrenes- The
pain occasIoned BY this swelling, and the
fever, trouble the patient night and dag:
In severe cases the patients cannot extend
lie mostly with their arms and legs half
hent-heavy and almost motion1ess. During
the second OF third week an extremely pair
.ful and general swelling takes place."
The particular phases of this affection would
only interest the professional reader.
The progress, duration and eeverity Of the
disease In man are in relation to the number
Of trichtn:e taken into the digestive canal.
The prophy1a1i or preventive consists simply
| IN he aroitdncs Of uneooktd meals.
Mr. Gamgee, veterinary professor, Edfn'
burgh, in the Popular Science Rspteo, say:
ut is interesting to observe that parasitic
ma1adies in the pig specially abound In that
section Of the United Kingdom where swine
live most among human beings.
1.-THE Yorkshire and Berkshire pigs, In Their
native counties, inc1oscd IN the farm yards oi
| their breeders, arc free from WORMS which are
likely to live In tho body Of man. The Irish
| pig Is the most commonly Injured By entozoa
know how much the cottager reliea On rearing
| porker which is permitted the free range o.
| house and road, where every description O
! nth is deyoured, charged with the pva Of par
asites expelled BY man or some Of the lowe'
Y have, Indeed. good reason to belieyee
but without dlscarding him from the srnul
List Of animals to be eaten, It is evident thai
! We can purify the race Of swine, and thus pre-
vent human N we'll as porcine malad1es- Thu
more We learn of parasitic dfsease In man, th'
better We can understand how even the IN
dcr-done roast beef may prove to us poisot
| rs well rs food and how the dog and cat ve
| pet may indirectly shorten our dnys.
We may thus urge upon the American
farmer the absolute necessity Of bis breeding
and fattening only perfectly healthy stocl
| Of animals for his pccuniary profit, as we'll a
! for the health Of himself and family, AMI
those who partake Of hts produce.