River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-03-17
TRICHINE.
A lecture ON subject of SPECIAL
Interest.

IRlInINf..
n Lecture ON subject of SPECIAL
Interest.
DIR. A. Lagori recently delivered a
lecture in Chicago, on trichine. and
spoke substantially as follows
Trichina are animals, parasites, or
little worms, which, when ingested into
the system of man or beast, cause a
very serious and alarming disease, by
their spreading and multiplication The
worm was totally unknown until 1922,
when it was discovered by DIR. Tied
man, and afterwards independently in
1882, by DIR. Hilton. DR.. Lenkard as
certained its character in the mature
condition, and later, many other observ-
ers throughout Europe and America,
have Investigated its history. Since its
discovery, the dissecting-room has fur
nished observers with specimens of this
parasite long supposed to be harmless
Facts, however, accumulated within
the past few years have shown that the
introduction and multiplication of tri-
chime within the body of man may give
rise to morbid effects of great gravity,
which often prove fatal. Much infor-
nation has been obtained respecting
the natural history of the parasite, the
circumstances under which the human
body becomes infected by it, and the
morbid phenomena which characterize
the disease.
Trichin@ consists of male and fe-
male. When mature the male is about
one-twenty fifth of an inch long by one
six-hundredth Of an inch in thickness;
the female of at least twice this length
and thickness. The eggs measure about
IL, 200 Of an inch in diameter, and each
female, though so small, contains from
800 to 1000 ova.
These, after fertilization and six or
eight days of CESSATION, are developed
into embryos, which, when extruded
within the intestines of an animal,
commence ut once their migration.
Finding their way through the intes-
final walls they travel on, until they
locate themselves in or between the
fibres of some of the muscles. There
they coil into a spiral form, and be
come gradually surrounded by a cal
careous sac or cyst. When incysted,
if left alone, they soon change into so
many specks oflime; but, if ingested
into the body of an animal, they burst
out and infest the system. The sac
has an ovoid or lemon-like shape, and
is visible sometimes to the naked eve
as whitish or gray speck.
The muscles mostly affected are
differently stated by the various au-
thors; but, generally, the insects mig
rate to the muscles of the back, the
chest, neck, and limbs, also to the mus
cles of the eyeball and throat. For
examination during life, the muscular
tissue of the under part of the tongue
is preferable; fragment is obtained,
and when placed under the lens of the
microcope the free worm may be seen.
The hog is especially liable to trich-
in@, but they have also been found in
the horse, sheep, dog, cat, mole, pigeon
eel, and, some assert. in the OK. Elk,
perimentally, by feeding the animals
upon infected meat, they have been
communicated tothe rabbit, guinea
pig, and other creatures.
The symptoms produced by trichina
in the human being are many and ter
rible, and are rec ngnized in two groups
or stages First. by the presence of the
worms in the alimentary canal, and
their multiplication there; second, by
their migration and location in the
muscles. Altogether progress until en-
cysted and stationary occupies three or
four weeks. A trichinosis patient may
die within month. If he survives
that time he is likely to recover, al
though not without delay and incon-
venlence.
In speaking to you of prevention, [
am not going to tell you to abstain
from eating pork. On the other hand,
eat it if you like; but, no matter in
what shape it may be, whether as ba-
con, ham, or sausage, it should be thor
oughly cooked before being eaten.
Whatever mode of cooking is employ
ed, whether boiling, roasting, baking,
or frying, the article should be thor
oughly done all through. Ii has been
questioned whether the sailing and
smoking of meat is sufficient to kill the
animalcul@, and some. have asserted
the affirmative when the pork has been
thoroughly sailed and the sausage ex-
posed to heated smoke for twenty four
hours. In my opinion, sailing and
smoking may be q preventive means
of some value, but as they are gener-
ally and commonly done they do not
insure safety and picking has little,
if any effect. Therefore it will be the
safest never to partake of ham, bacon,
or sausage unless previously we'll
cooked 1t is also a good rule not to
eat meat of any kind-as it is often
one-halfcooked or less, because,
though the animal from which it has
been obtained may not be known to be
subject to trichina, yet we cannot be
certain that it never was infected, and
there may be other parasites with
which it is afflicted. which, when intro
duced into the human system, may be
the source of serious mischief.
We we'll know how much American
pork has lost in value and esteem
during the past few years throughout
Europe. Italy especially has prohib-
tied its importation. Spain, | believe,
has done the same, and now, within
two months, over 10000 pounds of
American trichinous pork having been
detected in Lyons, France, the Superior
Council of Public Hygiene of Hungary
has forbidden in an absolute manner
the introduction into that country of
meats, hams, and sausages coming