Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-05
IN DEFENSE OF PORK.
AMERICAN PIGS DO NOT CARRY
TRICHIN.E.


Science Against Bismarck-ImpOrtant
and Interesting Observations by Ru-
dOlph VirehOw, the Distinguished
PathOlogist-The German Interdict
Probably to be Removed.
Considering the German interdict of the
importation of American pork, says the
Philadelphia Times, it would be supposed
that a great number of cases of poisoning
by American pork must have happened in
Germany. The great German patnolo-
gist, Rudolph Virchow, member of the
Scientific Deputation of Berlin, who, in
his capacity as pathologist and as the
highest authority in Germany on such
questions, should have frequently had Oc-
casiOn to examine suspicious Ameri-
can pork, has been recently in
duced to investigate the affair, and
has published the result of his re-
searches in his widely-read journal dr.
chiOfur pdthOlOgiSche ARdt0mie and Ply
Si0lOqie. He has come to remarkable
conclusions. First, he proves that there
has been only one medical statement of
poisoning of human beings by American
pork in Germany, and this statement was
even not verified by a higher authority.
A number of cases were reported by a
physician, now deceased, named FOlke,
in Bremen. This FOlke described some
cases of trichinOsis caused by American
pork. On examining the latter he discov-
cred the characteristic chalky encrusta-
tiOns, but not a single living trichine.
He managed, however, to produce wide
spread alarm, and succeeded in per-
suading the authorities of Bremen to
warn people against the eating of Ameri-
can pork, and to request the German
Chancellor, Bismarck, to interdict its
importation. From other sides came SINH
lar requests, but none of them was based
upon the evidence of the discovery of a
single living trichina.
Notwithstanding his utmost care to OBJ
tain all possible information, Virchow has
not been able to discover in Germany any
other instances of trichinosis produced by
American pork. If we remember that all
such matters, especially where a number
of persons succumb to a poisonous sub
stance, must finally reach the Scientific
Deputation in Berlin; that Virchow, be-
ing the highest authority of pathology
probably in the world, is the pathOlogist
of this deputation, and that the compli-
Gated machinery of the Prussian Govern
ment, at his disposal, permits the most
minute and thorough inquiries of that
kind, we can be but astonished at the ac-
tion of Bismarck, who, influenced simply
by popular rumor, interdicts all impOr-
tatiOn of American pork without having
first inquired into the actual data.
VIRCHOW'S INVESTIGATIONS.
But VirchOW's researches went further.
He was surprised at observing, while
Folke spoke of the great number of per-
sons who, he said, had fallen a victim to
trichinosis imported by American pork
without, however, having given any
names or definite figures) and while
FOlke had discovered the chalky encrus-
tati0ns in the suspected meat, that the
same FOlke had not detected any living
trichina, of which it is known that they
alone can cause trichinOsis, and not those
that are encapsuled, their process OF life
and capability OF doing injury having
both come to an end with the encrusta-
tion.
While Virchow was debating within
himself this question a specimen of
American bacon, which had been pro-
nOunced by a physician to contain tri-
chime, was sent to him, with the request
to examine it for trichin3. He found
chalky deposits, but ON further inYestiga-
tion he discovered that these deposits were
not due to trichin9. This important fact
at once caused him to institute a series OF
researches, in which his well-known as
sistant, DIR. Israel, and another expert,
who has to examine in Berlin all slaugh-
tered hogs, co-operated with Virchow.
AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.
Tense investigations have led to a sur
prising discovery. 1t had been known
that guanin { a product of waste) and cys-
/ ticerk9 ( a parasite may also cause the
| formation of peculiar knots in pork, but
these are easily discerned from trichin9
! But VIrchow has now detected that arti-
nomycetes Can animalcule) is also met
| with in the hog and produces in the flesh
/ Of ~ 10 q 0hn1l~xr Hovncft in fbo
| cular tissue of striking similarity to that
caused by trichin@. Indeed, without very
| careful examination and without some
| delicate tests, it is impossible to distin-
| guish between the two. The main points
/ of distinction are that the chalky encrus-
tations of artinOmyceUes are larger, usu-
| ally have more rounded form, and that
| they are not imbedded amongst healthy
| muscular fibres as the trichina) y but that
the muscular tissue is inflamed and inter
mingles with the chalky deposit. But the
only sure test can be made in fresh speci.
mens-their micrOscOpical examination
! after they have been stained with cOche-
| mile, when the characteristic threads, al.
| most bacillus-like, make their appearance
As the artinomycetes seem be very com.
mon in pork, and as these lines are the
first publication of Virchow's discovery
on this side OF the Atlantic, we may guess
/ NV many VI PNl rs nam anu bdt
con must have been condemned as con.
tanning trichin9, while there really were
no trichin@ in theml While Virchow's
researches add another difficulty to the
| examination of suspected pork the main
| question which will have to be decided is
that of determining the effect of these ar
| tinOmvcetes and the possible injury which
| they have on the human body. Thus fan
! the weight of evidence seems to be in ia.
yor of their innocuous character. Wheth-
er they are harmless only under certain
cOnditions-as, for instance, when present
alive in the pork-or whether they never
cause any harm, must be solved by further
observations, for which we will have pro-
baby not long to wait.
AS the scientific deputation is that
authoritative body which instructs the
| German Government ON the scientific
principles guiding the authorities in the
framing of laws, ETC., there will scarcely
| be any doubt that after YirchOw's report
the whole question will be most thorough.
| ly ventilated and the German interdict OF
American pork will be probably removed
Indeed, the latest advices from Berlin
already denote a great activity in the
circles interested, though the question
cannot be finally solved until the innoc
uous or injurious character of the pres
ence of artinomycetes in pork has beer
determined.