The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-06-17
THE TRIcHIsA IN IOWA.
Interesting PARTICULAR Of the "a,
Cases at Marion-Symptoms, Ineidsn

FAt0y
Etc.
Correspondence of The Chicago Esening Journal
MARlox, Iowa, June II, 1865.
As the recent appearance of The terrible
disease IrlchlniOsis in our midst is calculated
to excite grave apprehensions and anxiety
throughout the Northwest, and as these are
the first we'll authenticated instances in this
country, as far as know, where the disease
has been observed in the human subject,
have taken pains to obtain q correct history
OF the affair to lay before your readers.
About the 9th Of April last. all the mem
bers of q large family, with one exception,
were suddenly attacked with peculiar symp-
toms. The family consisted Of an old gen.
tlemen named Bemis, wife and two sons, .
son-in-law named Lansing, with his wife and
four children, in all, ten persons. The differ
ent members were attacked either simultane-
ously or in rapid succession with the same
train OF symptoms: The symptoms partook
somewhat of atyphoid character, and as some
of the conditions which are supposed to favor
the production of typhoid fever were present,
the attending physician conducted the treat
ment accordingly. As no material improve
ment OF the symptoms was manifested, on
the 3lst ultimo, two Of the leading phys
OF the place were called in consultation, the
result Of which was that, after q careful ex-
animation Of the symptoms, and their antece-
dent history, the disease was unhesitxtingly
pronounced trichiniosis. On being questioned,
the facts were disclosed that two or three
days prior to the development of the primary
symptoms, all of the family, with the excep-
,ion mentioned above, had partaken more or
less freely of . portion of uncooked ham.
which had been obtained of son Of Mr.
E n tvnA - tka
been cured by him. Mr. Lansing, who was
absent when the raw meat was served, but
who ate of the same ham after il had been
thoroughly boiled, has alone continued in
perfect health throughout Mrs. L., who ate
OF 1t when partially cooked or rare, suffered
from the same symptoms III milder form.
Ibis and other cumulative evidence satisfied
the physicians as - the nature of the disease,
and although many affected 10 doub. the cor
recsness Of the diagnosis. the dictum OF the
doctors was accepted by the majority Of the
people. Tho most exaggerated reports were
Immediately put into circulation. and il Is vet
difficult to obtain . correct repor, outside of
the immediate vicinity.
The symptoms at the outset consisted OF
abdominal pain aud diau hsr, with iassitnde
and indlsposition TO any kind of active exer-
c,se. The superveatioa OF the secondary
symptoms Was marked by general coust,,u-
tioral disturbances. high fever, prosuse sweat
ing. bloating of the face aud feet, and in
some instances Of other parts soreness and
sniiiness OF the muscles The tongue soon
becomes dry and brown, with well defined
red edges and tip; the pnlrc weak and fre-
queus, with mild and transient deliriur.
which was more manifest during the evening.
In some cases there 10 great deal Of pulmo-
nary disturbance: but whether It exists as an
t.rl lxt~ Il Al l.
raication, is not fully made cut. II il char
acterized by pain in the side and breast,
hacking cough, and the occasional expectora.
ton OF very tenacious muscle. tinged with
blood. Emaciation in all is marked
The next morning after the consultation an
opportunity was afforded to verify the dag
nosis, by the death Of Que OF the children Of
Mr.. Lansing. A post mortem was made,
and portions of muscle from different parts
of the body were subjected to microscopic
examination. The instrument used at the
time was an ordinary Craig microscope Of low
power; but even with it the parasite was
readily discovered. DIR. Ristine immediately
sent TO Chicago and procured a fine instru-
ment of 800 diameters, through which the
trichina appears like an ordinary garter snake
in shape and size. One gentleman counted
l04 trichina In portion of muscle l-l2 inch
square and LIP inch thick, which would give
in round numbers $4,000 to the cubic inch
much larger number than recollect to have
ever seen reported.
nation of the internal organs, but upon .
cursory inspection the ascending and trans
verse colon appeared very much congested,
while the small intestines we're, to all appear
ance, healthy. One Of the young men and
another of the Lansing children have since
died, and Mr.. and Mrs. Bemis have at present
little prospect of recovery. Mrs. Lansing.
who ate only Of rare meat. is conyalescent,
while her remaining two children and her
brother are improving. The treatment has
been mainly supporting the palliative, with
the hope of proloDging lie until the parasites,
having finished their migrations, should be
come encysted and quiescent. The number
Of offspring generated by the parent worm,
though very quiet, appears not to be unlin-
tied, and it evidently requires that they should
be present in great abundance in order to
produce sufficient arrangement Of the func-
tons to destroy life, as in all these cases the
severity of the symptoms was in direct pro.
portion to the amount of trichinous matter
eaten. 1t is the prevailing impression here
among medical men and others, that trichin-
iosis in man and the so.caiied cholera in the
hog are analogous diseases. and that the
enscysted trichina are to be found in the flesh
Of hogs which have recovered from the chol-
era. As no opportunity for testing the matter
is at present furnished, 1t will have to be
considered as in abeyance. The antecedents
Of the hog which furnished the diseased
meat cannot be obtained, - they were un.
known to the gentleman who killed it Fears
are at present entertained that certain other
cases Of disease in the country will prove to
be trichiniosis, but hope they viii prove