Savannah morning news., 1885-12-10
I'LL FROM rRICHINOsIs.
Eight Persons Frustrated After Eating
Half-Cooked Pork.

The health authorities were called upon
Monday to investigate case Of supposed
trichinosis on the West side. All the
sufferers, eight in number, had eaten to-
gether OF a half-cooked ham. DR.. Cyrus
Edison is making a thorough investiga-
tion. Not morsel is lett of the ham, but
the history of the cases leaves little or no
doubt as to the cause Of the trouble.
Frederick Weltzel, a German shoe
maker, lives in the basement No. - King
street. with his wife Nina, who also is
quite old, and children. Oscar, aged 20,
a varnsheT by trade; William, aged 49,
Emma, aged %; Bertha, aged 81, and
Amelia. aged II. The Weitzels have still
another daughter, Matilda, who is the
wife of John Lawson, driver. Mr.. and
Mrs. Lawson live on the third floor OF NO.
215 Wooster street. 1t was Mrs. Law
sons birthday on Wednesday, Nov. %,
the day before THANKSGIVING, and in
honor Of the event the old shoemaker gave
a family party IN the basement,
to which number OF friends
were invited. Among these was Mrs.
Margaret Pierce and her husband,
frame maker, living on the third floor OF
the King street house. and Moses simon,
young friend OF Mr.. Lawson, who
were treated to ham sandwiches, potato
salad and beer. Mr.. Lawson and some Of
she Weitzel children took notice of the
fact that the ham was only partially
boiled. but as il was sweet and nice moth
ing was thought of it. Nor did any one
exhibit symptoms OF illness that night.
Some ate sparingly of the ham and others
very heartily. Only the bone was left
when the party was over, and that went
sv.en ,Ien nnk haW A snA
ate heartily of the ham were Mrs. and
Bertha Weitzel, who are great friends,
and chatted together over their sand
witches insa back room. Mr.. Pierce did not
eat any, and Misses Amelia and Emma
Weitzel, who are not hearty eaters. took
but very little.
Friday at noon Mrs. Weitzel took TO
her bed with symptoms of heavy cold,
great languor, and shortly after acute
pains in the stSnach, nausea, vomiting
and diarrhPa. She remained In bed and
lies there yet, afflicted with extreme
prOstratiOn. After the vomiting spell
she experienced sharp pains in the
muscles of the arms. legs and back, like
muscular rheumatism. These pains con-
tlnued yesterday, though apparently the
worst stage Of the disease has passed.
While Mrs. Weitzel was writhing in
pain on Saturday, three days after the
party, her husband took TO his bed
with exactly the same symp-
toms. On Monday the boy Willie followed
suit, and the following Wednesday Miss
Bertha. On Friday Oscar Weltzel came
home from his work, afflicted like the rest,
and Amelia and Emma alone of the family
were on their feet. Miss Emma did not
get sick at all, while Amelia escaped with
the initiatory symptoms of the complaint
the others suffered from, and felt none of
the painful after effects. Yesterday all of
the family had recovered so far as to be
about, except the mother and Miss Bertha,
who were still very weak, the latter
especially. Miss Bertha was unable to
move hand or foot, and suffered great
muscular pains in thighs and back.
Meanwhile Mrs. Pierce had taken to her
bed in the third story with similar symp-
toms. Mr.. Pierce, who had eaten none of
the ham, escaped altogether. His wife
was yesterday unable TO stir, and COM
planned of great pain in the back and
muscles of the legs. DIR. Albert Ash
mead, of West Eleventh street, pronounce
ed the symptoms those OF malarial fever,
and treated her accordingly. To a great
extent DR.. Oscar G. Smith, of the North
ern Dispensary, treated the Weitzel fam
lily. Learning of the ham episode, he
made inquiries and efforts TO obtain
scrap Of the pork for microscopic eXami-
nation.
DIR. Smith. years ago, was house surgeon
in the New York Hospital, and had under
his treatment a whole family suffering
from triehinosis. The symptoms of the
WeitZels resembled those Of that disease
to such degree that he was strangely
inclined TO believe the cases genuine
trichinOsis. When he was informed yes
terday that others besides the Weitzels
who attended the party were seized with
similar symptoms he expressed himself
as quite convinced that the cases were
good specimens of trichinosIs.
John Lawson. Mr.. WeitZeps son-in-law.
was taken i'll with the familiar symptoms
last Friday. His wife was about yester-
day, while her husband lay in bed, scarce
lv able TO move, suffering from severe
pains in the muscles of the legs and hips,
and in the joints. In their case, as in
| those of the WeitZels, and OF Mrs. Pierce.
the attending physician, DR.. Hamilton
Burch, of South Fifth avenue, diagnosed
malarial fever, and suited his treatment
TO his diagnosis. When informed of the
extent of the mysterious epidemic, and
the probable cause, the Lawsons said yes
terday that Moses Simon, who tended
the party with them, had exhibited symp-
toms Of illness like the rest, on Saturday
and Sunday last, but that the attack was
not so severe. Mrs. Lawson, like Mrs.
Pierce, Mrs. Weitzel and Bertha Welt
eel, complained of feeling in her arms
and legs as if they were dead when she
moved them. and in the intervals OF the
muscular pains.
Trichinosis has been In this city a very
rare disease, and few physicians are IA
miliar with its symptoms from personal
observation. DIR. James b. Taylor. chief
of the Fourth sanitary division, who is
one OF the few, said yesterday: ''rrichi-
nosis has no regular period Of incubation.
The patient may be attacked at any time
within from one day to two weeks of
eating infected pork. The symptoms
are intense weakness and langOr, head
ache, some diarrhwa and nausea. They
resemble so strongly the familiar
signs OF malarial fever as to lead
10 frequent mistakes, especially where
nothing in the history OF the case
leads TO the suspicion Of trichinosis. At
later stage in the disease came the
characteristic severe muscular pains in
thighs. arms, chest, and in the back. II
Is caused by the microscopic worms
working out into the muscles. where they
are found on examination after death in
varying numbers. The progress Of the
disease ia marked by great prostratiOn.
The patients often recover"
Mr.. NJ. ROsenbaum, a butcher on the
northwest corner OF Narick aud King
streets, sold the ham to the Weitzels. lie
said yesterday that he purchased ali his
pork from Keller 4 Hiudle, provision
dealers ON Ninth avenue, and had heard