The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-04-22
The Terrors OF TrichlnOsis.


PHILADELPHIA, April 16.-The death
Of two children of Frederick s. Lutz, of
this city, on Tuesday and Wednesday of
a disease pronounced by DIR. Morieb
Warner to be trichinosis, was made the
subject of special investigation to-day
by Prof Morris LoDgstreth, OF Jefferson
medical college, and DR. James B. Wal
ker, of the wOman's medical college.
Mr.. Lutz's wife and one other child were
seized with similar symptoms, all about
the same time, a few hours after having
eaten some boiled ham. This led DIR.
Warner 10 suspect trichinR, and the
remedies for that trouble were used with
happy effect as to the mother and eldest
child, while the younger children sank
rapidly and died respectively five and
six days after the symptoms manifested
themselves. In the death certificate DIR.
Warner described this disease as an
acute inflammation off the colon and lower
viscera, more commonly called dysen-
terry. Probably the parasitic origin of
the disease would not have been sus-
pected, but for the international agi-
tation on the subject which, Is now
in progress. 1t was with some Difficult,
ty that the family could be lndnced to
permit the mutilation necessary to the
thorough exploration of the disease.
post mortem examination of the disease
as complete as was practicable, confin-
ing their explorations principally to the
stomach and neighnoFing tissue, where
the pain Of the disease had been most
complained Of Although they used q
microscope of very high power and DIR.
Longstrelh, especially, is practiced in
looking for trichine, none of the para
sites were discovered. DR.. LOngstreth
says that the disease, nevertheless, may
have been and probably was caused by
pork. Unfortunately, NO portion Of the
meat could be found, and the ham oil
which 1t had been cut by the grocer was
all sold. German physicians who have
made diligent study of trichin@ poison
ing, have found another morbid condi
ton of swine's flesh that would be more
likely to produce the symptoms. This
Is q poison which is generated during
the canning of the meat, that lies dor
mont in the tissue and undiscoverIble by
the human eye, even when assisted by
powerful magnifiers When taken int
the human system it becomes an active
irritant poison, calculated TO produces
the pain, reiching and purging which
marked the disease of the children DR.
Longstreth saysthat trichinosis is no new
disease in Philadelphia. Several case
HAVC Occn bECdlc0s successfully IN TIT
Pennsylvania hospital, where its Origin
and progress have been closely studied
A man, he says, may live on in apparen
health with millions of them imbeddeC
In his muscles. AS fart as can be ascef
tanned, they do not propagate in The tits
sue When introduced into the ANNA
stomach they bore their way to the mus
cles. living free life until they reach q
tendron too tough for their -mAndibles
Thus forced TO halt, a thin coating O.
lime speedily envelopes them like Al
egg-shell, inside of which they lie dor
mant until contact with the dfgestini
fluids frees them for another foray In an
other victim. In human subjects, clearly
suffering from the disease the symptoms
are irritation and infiammaiion. II
whatever portion of the anatomy the
are too abundant there is fever, soreness
and pain, which maksslhe symptom
closely analogous 10 muscular rheums
tism. If promptly treated the suffere
has a fair chance of recovery, evel
though infected by millions OF the pestii
erous parasites. A very large dose @
badly. trichine-d diseased ham might hav