Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1883-08-13
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Does Salt XIII Trlchinm:

anu influence on the sale ana COnSump-
ton of hog products at home and
abroad. Considerable is know about
this parasite, but it has never been de.
termined how long it will live in cured
meat or what amount Of salt will de-
stroy 1t. 1t would seem to be the duty
OF government TO investigate the mat
ter in the interest of public health as
well rs for the benefit of one of the
great interests OF the country. Our
consul at Brussels writes the depart
ment of state in this matter as fol
lows:-
The most panic-producng writer's on
this subject generally admit that it is
from eating raw or imperfo city smoked
or salted swine's flesh that the disease
known as trichiniasis usually results,
and they further confess that when
once the little animal is inclosed with
in the walls of its enveloping cyst its
active life ceases, and that, in what
ever numbers found, it henceforth
ceases to endaDger either life or health.
Yet, with n rare inconsistency, many
of them claim that in this quescent
state 1t retains its vitality for long
period, even extending through many
years. OF this fact there can, of course.
be but simple conjecture. seeing that
no observer can tell at what exact time
the parasite has thus enshrouded him
self But opposed to this theory is that
almost universal law of animal life,
that longevity of the animal generally
bears direct proportion to the period
required for it's maturation.
Now, it is claimed by most trichinic
observers that the process of genera
ton and birth of this little animal in
variably takes place in the stomach
and intestinal canal, and that within
few days from its birth it has SO
matured as to penetrate the walls of
the intestines and rapidly makes its
way through the various intervening
structures to the remote muscular
tissue of the animal it infects, there to
be speedily incysted and endowed with
Il subsequent dormant existence of
several years, during which time it's
presence occasions little or no incon-
venience. OF this theory Of the life
and movements of this little worm |
can only say that it involves an almost
unparalleled exception to the law gen
orally regarded as determining animal
life, and ought not to be accepted but
upon the most positive proof.
ltmay further be stated that the law
governing parasitic existence in living
tissue usually involves the speedy death
OF the parasite after the pabulum upon
which 1T feeds has passed from under
the domain of vital force; hence unless
this tiny worm constitutes an exception
To this law, its life must be short after
the organic structure upon which it
| feeds has ceased to live. But however
this may be, the fact remains, accord
ing to my observations, that this para
site can not live in tissue saturated
with chloride of sodium or common
salt. If in this opinion AM mistaken,
| can only say that have failed TO re-
ceive authentic proof to the contrary,
and until otherwise convinced | feel it
my duty to reiteratc the results of nv
own experience and observations, and
that is that | have never myself seen,
nor found microscopic who would de-
clare that he had observed trichins in
motion or manifesting any other sign
of life when found in well-salted meats.
| have myself been present when
OMcially appointed micrOscopists at
some of the abattoirs of this country
have been engaged in examining
American pork for trichins, and have
been invited by these gentlemen TO see
for myself, through their microscopes,
the peculiar cell and spiral coil of the
animal, but ON carefully examining
them | have only observed, blended
with the tissue and minute salt crys-
tails, the cntombed animals, evidently
as destitute of life as the structure in
which it was imbedded. If, then, salt