Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-30

the pisiformis, tenuicollis, celnlosae or coe.
nurus, will, in the stomach of the dog, be de-
veloped into one and the same parasite, the
mature taeina serrata
But from this general reference to parasites
and parasitic Development we pass TO the dis.
cussion of one particular species. and that,
although in size one of the least of its race, it
Is In its effects the most terrible and deadly foe
to man-the trichin9 spirdtis. The venomous
rattlesnake souuds the battle cry as he attacks
his victim, but this accursed foe gives no note
of warning, until by stealth he has gained the
citadel of life. and we are powerless for de-
feDse.
This parasite is introduced into the human
system by eating flesh containing its immature
Larvae. It is found occasionally in most warm
blooded animals, but chiefly in the hog, and
The immature parasite, as discovered by the
aid OF the microSc scope. is a Serpent-shaped worm
about one twenty fifth of an inch in length.
and lies spirally coiled up within oval-shaped
cysts.
When flesh containing thess immature encyst-
ed larvse is taken into the stomach the parasites
are liberated from their cysts by the process of
digestion. and in two day s. time have reached
their adult or sexually mature condition.
In two or three days more the female brings
forth an innumerable brood of hair-like laIvee,
which Immediately commence their work of
destruction bV penetrating the intestinal walls
and seeking their destination in the muscles
which they probably reach through the circu-
lation of the blood. Here their presence is
mess certainly and sadly manifested. Lacerat-
ing the hbreS and penetrating the muscles they
gorge themselves with flesh, so that in two
weeks time, or about three weeks from the
time they were taken into the stomach, they
have attained their first form of development
and now become encySted larvae. Here they
must remain forever dormant. unless at some
time taken into some unfortunate stomach.
there to be liberated and permitted to repeat
the work of destruction and death.
This parasite was observed as early as 1928
but it was not until later date that Professor
Owen gave it a scientific description and the
name, trtchinOe spfrGlis. In 1860 Professor
zenker first discovered the dire and deadly
malady which this parasite induces, and gave
the first description of the disease. trichi-
roSis.
This terrible disease, trichinosis, has hereto
fore been very difficult of diagnosis, frem a
general lack of knowledge on the subject; but
the development of the disease as indicated by
the different stages and locations of the para
site, should enable the careful observer to
determine its existence with great certainty.
DaCosta believes that in most cases there is
no certainty of diagnosis short of vIvisection
and actual microscopic examination of the
flesh of our patients; but if we bear in mind
that this disease has its different and distinct
stages of development and having in any case
suspicion of trichinosis in its first stage and
in due time there follow definitely marked
characteristic symptoms of the second stage,
our suspicion Of a possibility has now advanced
to probability. And moreover. if there su-
pervene in their appointed time and order
prominently characteristic symptoms of the
third aud fourth stage, we may be as positive
and unerring in our diagnosis as in most other
diseases From these general observations in
trichinosis, l proceed to state as concisely as
possible my views of its pathology and dag
nosis ]. When ty eating infected and i'm
perfectly cooked meat the parasite is taken
into the living stomach in its encysted and
dormant state. and by the process of digestion
it is liberated from its cell and restored to active
life, it Immediately attacks ard attaches itself
to the mucous membrane of the stomach and
bowels with which it is brought in contact.
For about two days it lacerates and gorges
itself with this mucous suiface and when be-
coming sexually mature it deposits thousands
of young hair-!ika larvse, which Immediately
attack and for two days more greatly exag-
tiOn, which is the characteristic pathological
condition of the first stage. The diagnostic
symptoms OF the first stage are manifestly
frequent, uncomfortable and long continued
vomiting and purging of mucous, with terrible
nausea and loathing Of food and drink -
Beyond the first stage or period Of mucous
Irritation, the original or parent parasite is not
recognized.
2. In the second stage the young parasite
pierces the stomach and intestines, and iuvades
the adjacent glandular structures, causing irri-
tation and Inflammation Of these organs, and
producing pathological condition similar to
that Of typhoid fever in its earlier stages. The
symptoms Of the second stage are ''pain and
soreness of the bowels, with tympanites, low
continued fever, diarrhoea, debility, loss Of
appetite and of sleep, the symptoms closely
resembling those of typhoid fever
3. The parasite next manifests itself in the
muscular system, the method of reaching
which has hitherto been disputed point,
whether by continuously perforating and ira
versing the solid tissues, or by the circulating
system. The probabilities, however. seem to
favor the latter opinion. Indeed, l have case
in point that seems to demonstrate it. Among
my patients was a nursing child of whom the
mother affirmed that III had uOt tasted a in
fected meat, and yet this child had the same
symptoms as other members of the family of
trichinosis in the third and fourth stages.
Evidently this child received its parasi es
through the lacteal circulation. It is fair to
infer, therefore, that the parasites are carried
from the lacteal into the general circulation
thence distributed by the capillaries through
all the muscular structures. Here their pres
ence is soon painfully realized, penetrating
and lacerating the tissues, they gorge them
selves Herewith until In few days they have
attained their growth and first form Of devel-
opment. This mutilating and consequent
Inflammation and weakening of the muscles
constitutes the characteristic pathological
condition of the third stage. The diagnostic
symptoms In the third stage are excessive
swelling, soreness and weakness OF the mus
cles with fever. great anxiety. and dyspnsa,
the symptoms closely resembling those of in
hammatory rheumatism"
In the fourth stage the parasite has weak
ened the muscles or respiration and invaded
the lung tissues, inducing active Inflammation
and disorganization. The symptoms of the
fourth stage are greatly increased dEspnoea,
frequent coughing, with sanguino-puru-
lent expectoration, excessive bloating of
the face and extremities, anxiety, sleep
lessness and utter prostration." And il
these different stages In their order
have been severe, the patient dies, certainly
and speedily, with symptoms of typhoid pneu-
monia.
In a recent epidemic which has come under
my observation. fourteen persons were sick.
Two died and four more barely escaped the
same fate. The survivors were from six to
fourteen months in regaining their strength
and vigor.
This epidemic was caused by eating raw or
partially cooked meat from hog which had
been culled from a car load of live hogs as not
which Professor Zenker observed so carefully,
and to which we have before referred. he
found to have been caused by eating sausage
made from pig which the owner considered
to have been in poor condition. 1t is manifest
ly the duty of physicians to warn their patients
against the danger of eating raw or imperfect
ly cooked pork, 1t may come within the pro-
vines Of this board to suggest, and may be the
duty of State Boards of Health to demand,
such legislation as shall prohibit, under severe
penalty, the sale of any animal, or the flesh
thereof, which does manifest, or has at any
time manifested, symptoms of being diseased,
without having such flesh properly examined
by the microscope and proven to be not in
fected.
Paper No. v, on "Trichin@ Spiralis in
American and German Hogs, killed at San
Antonio, Texas" by DR.. y. s. Billings I've
terinary surgeon), of Massachusetts, was
read by title, after which general and In.
teresting discussion on the various subjects
treated of ensued, and the association ad-
journed until 8 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
AT about half-past three the meeting was
called to order by the President, and the
Secretary read another list of names of gen
tlemen who had been recommended to cleo
tion as members of the association by the
Executive Committee, and all were, on mo
tion, unanimously elected. The reading of
papers, as per programme, was then resumed.
The first paper read was that by DIR. 8. g..
Herrick, of New Orleans, on the
"ooMPARATIvE VITAL MOVEMENT OF THE
WHITE AND CoLoRED RACES IN THE UNITED
STATES"
as follows:
The relative vital movement of different races
In a mixed population is matter of interest to
the sanitarian, as well as the ethnologist. The
white and colored races, living side by side in
this country, and in some OF the Southern
States in nearly equal numbers, afford an ex-
ample for study. though the problem is rem
dered complicated and indefinite by their par
tial admixture. The number of communities
in which accurate records of deaths classi-
fed by races are kept, is confined to few of
the cities and towns. and the record of births
is still more limited; but enough is known to
form few tables that may be Instructive
Table A is designed to show the mortality
for all ages, that for the first five years of life,
that from some of the leading death causes,
and the births where attainable; also, the ratio
of the same per 900 of population by races.
1t will be observed that the ratio of mortaIi-
ty for all ages is invariably much greater
among the colored than among the white, and
that the disparity is still more marked under
five years of age. The same disparity is found
in most of the diseases exhibited in the tables.