The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-16
THE TRICHINE sPIRALIs.

THE DISEASE SPREADING EASTWARD - A
WHOLE FAMILY AFFLICrED-AN ExAMINA.
TON OF THE MEAT.
The Buffalo Courier OF the 9Th inst. saws:
Within the PAST few days, as our readers
will be astonished to learn, trichinp spiralis
has made its appearance in Buffalo a whole
family having become its victims The
afflicted family Is that of Mr.. Herman w.
Ehlers, an intelligent German, who is by
trade harness maker, and whose residence
and shop are at No. ii6 William street. Mr..
Ehler's son-ln-lsw, Mr.. Becker, has for a
considerable time dealt to some extent in
hogs at the East Buffalo yards. About a
month ago ne purchased pig six
months old, which appeared to be
in such fine condition that ne
determined to reserve it Tor the use of the
family. The animal was slaughtered and
the meat was sent 10 the smoke house. from
which it was returned one day last week
The whole family, consistingof Mr. Ehlers,
his daughter, Mrs. Louisa Gerber, a son
named William, Mr.. Gerber and an appren-
tice boy named James Groehow, partook OF
a portion of one of the hams. The meat ap-
peared to be especially sweet and nice. II
was not long before every one of the family
was taken Ill. The symptoms at first simn
lated those of typhoid fever, and as a mem.
Der of the household had been sick with that
illness, the first impression was that
ALL WERE To BE ATTACKED
with that disorder. The family are intel
ligent people, and soon sought the services
Of their physician. On Monday Doctor A
Kammeriing was called. His first impress.
sion was also that the symptoms then ap.
parent were those OF typhoid fever, but he
soon arrived at the conclusion that such was
not the fact. He questioned the sick per-
sons as to the diet they had practiced. and
at length the meat was brought to his at
tention. Mr.. Ehlers. as he informed our re.
porter, had already entertained an unde.
fined idea Of what was really the trouble
The doctor obtained portion of the ham
subjected Ii to powerful microscope. ano
found that it was fairly alive with trichine
Mr. Eblers was quite i'll, suffering fron
considerable disorder of the stomach and
bowels, so that he has been unable
to attend TO his business, and his
son William has been affected tc
about the same extent. Mrs. EhIer wa:
very sick, but is now out of danger The
worse affected of the family were the daugh-
ter and the apprentice boy. Mrs. Becke
has been very low, and is indeed very i'll al
the present time, but Dr. Kammerling now
believes that she is out of danger Thus, a.
will have been observed, six persons were
attacked with the genuine trichine spiralis
Doctor Kammerling feels assured from hi.
knowledge of the disease and its progress.
that prompt medical attendance was wha
alone saved some and perhaps all of tn,
family from death. \ few day 5 of DELAY auC
the entire muscular systems of the sufferer.
would have been filled with
THE ANIMATED ATOMS.
The doctor exhibited to our reporter draw
ings which he had made of the trichinae a.
viewed with the microscope. A portion o
the meat scarcely larger than the point of
pen-knife contained FIVE or six The Young
those which ACCOMPLISH e deadly work o
boring through and into the organs and tbs.
sues OF the human body, ARE about one three
hundredth of an inch in length, aud appeal
as spiral or coiled worm. The authorize:
upon the subject of trichina spiralis, pro
nOunce that a hog may present no outward
indication, yet its muscles may
be alive with the infinitessimal in
sects. The animal may be reared and fec
with the greatest care, and aDpear in tn,
most healthy condition, aud vet be affected
with the disease. In view of this state O
facts it would appear that there is absolutely
no safeguard against an occasional case o
the disease among the people, except in