Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-30
TAPE-W0RMS.
A SWINE THICKLY INFESTED
WITH THEM.
Infection Between Human Beings
and Swine-Interesting Facts
Upon the Subject.


since, to the RECORD UNION office by Mr..
Duden. of Latrobe. The lean portion of
the meat was filled with white, globular-
shaped objects of the size of pearl barley.
Accompanying the specimen was a note
stating that the strange sample of meat was
cut from hog weighing 200 pounds, which
had been fattened on bran, middlings, ETC.,
and was killed upon a mountain ranch 40
miles from Latrobe; also, that the small,
white, egg-shaped objects in the flesh az
peared throughout the entire hog from
head to tail. Upon receipt of the speci-
men at the RECORD UNION office, it was
handed to Matthew Cooke practical ento-
mologist, who makes the following state
ment:
REPORT OF MATTHEW COOKE.
EDs RECORD UNION: l have examined
the piece of pork submitted by you, and
find the muscular tissues thickly infested
by species of tape-worm in the larval
state. The portion containing the muscular
tissues measured five and one-half cubic
inches, in which there were fifty-one EN-
brvo tape-worms. They are generally known
as cystic worms, bladder worms, etc , and
the meat thus infested is popularity known
as "measly pork"-a very inappropriate
name in the present case. OF the
meat examined there was about three
fourths of an inch of fat next to the rind or
skin. The fatty part is free from para
sites. In cutting open the lean meat there
appear white globular particles resembling
pearl barley in size and color. This is a
nucleus which is inclosed in sac, con-
structed Of transparent membrane and sur
rounded by liquid having granulated
particles floating through it. The
sack is found imbedded in the muscu-
lar tissues, is oval in form and about
the size of an ordinary grain of wheat
There extends small tube-like appendage
from each cell, nearly one-fourth of an inch
in length, in which there is a brown,
thread-like substance. In one tube the
colored substance is dubbed at the apex
resembling a miniature head, as seen under
the microscope. Therefore, the disease
cannot be measles, as it is purely parasitic,
and could only be introduced into the sys-
TEN of the pig by eating the formulated ova
OF one of the species of tape-worm. The
tape-worm infesting man is the T51,id soil
UNI; that infesting the pig, Ta'nia celt,d0sd;
those infesting the dog. 7'snia se,rata and
those the mice, T;eni1 fdsci0idris.
of the pig when young, by its eating or
swallowing the ova or eggs among human
or canine excrement, which, after develop
ment, is said TO penetrate the intestines
into the arterial vessels by the circulation
of the blood they reach their destination in
the muscular tissue. Pigs may be affected
by this embryo tape-worm and be healthy,
apparently, showing no signs of sickness.
] consider this pork unfit for use under any
circumstances as the parasites may in turn
be returned to the human beings. One
joint of a tape-worm is said TO contain
$4,000 tecundated ova, or eggs.
As the natural history of the species of
tape-worms mentioned are similar, for the
information of your readers | will quote
the history of the TgBlid soti,rin, or tape
worm of man, as given by Professor Cyrus
Thomas, State Entomoiogist of Illinois.
(See 18th Illinois Agricultural Report, page
z4l.)
PROFESSOR THOMAS COMMENT UPON THE
TAPE-woRM.
1t NAV excite smile when ! say that
man and the hog are so closely related to
each other that there is at least one animal
(if not two which depends for its existence
and development upon the two, and which,
If either should become extinct, must cease
to exist. Yet this is literally true. Not
that l would by any means intimate that
man is at all hoggish in his disposition, or
-fflat the hog is mans recent ancestor, in the
Darwinian sense, but simply as stating a
fact when | say there is one living link at
least that binds the. TWO together. This
fact is by no means pleasant to contem-
plate and It's investigation is far from being
a pleasant task But life, even in its most
disgusting form, is deeply interesting to the
scientist, especially when it presents pecu-
liarities not found elsewhere.
Many warm-blooded animals, including
man, are at times subject to the attack OF
certain intestinal worms known as tape
worms (TStHi5s), which inhabit the aliment-
airy canal. These singular animals are
distinguished by their great length and by
being composed of large number OF fiat
tened joints, amounting in some instances
to several hundred.
In order that you may more fully under
stand the life history of these singular
creatures, we will. for the purpose of Illus
tration, select one species and trace il
through its various steps of growth and
its strange transformations or modes OF
existence. As the best known, we take the
common tape-worm found in man (TiTRid
SOliUnl). Leaving to the physicians the de-
scription of the symptoms which indicate
its presence in man. and the method of its
expulsion, let us suppose it in stu, where
we can examine it at our leisure.
Here we see an exceedingly elongate and
much hattened tape-ike worm, composed
of an immense number of joints. The
head is rounded, with four obtuse corners,
at each of which you find kind of circu-
lar disk. These disks form the sucking APP
paratus, by means of which it imbibes
nourishment. Around the apex there is q
circle of booklets, by means of which it
maintains its hold on the mucus membrane
of the alimentary canal. Immediately be-
hind the head commences the series OF
joints; at first, and for some distance, very
narrow and short, but gradually increasing
In length and width as they reesde.
Now let US take one of these and exam
inc it with still more care This we see is
an ohlong chamber, surrounded by double
walls. The inner wall is really canal or
tube which appears to be the only real
means of communication between the
joints. This is what is termed the water
vascular system, which appears in this and
some other groups of the lower animals to
supply the Place both Of the cireulatory
and respiratory systems of the higher ami
mails. With this exception and that OF
mere attachment, the joint appears to be
independent of the head. The larger por-
tAOii VI tBC tDtti lO4 10 NICuHlCtl b1 illt Sill
star dendriform ovary showing that the
chief office of the joint-in fact its only
ofhce-is reproduction. Both the sexual
elements, the male and female, are here,
thereby rendering it complete for the pur-
pose for which il appears to be formed. At
one side is a small perforated rapilia, or
nipple, which affords means Of escape for
the spores or minute eggs.
An examination of the head segment will
reveal the fact that it is without the repro
ductive organs and hence is wholly inca
bic of reproducing itself-a fact to which l
would call particular attention. The tape
worm, therefore, consists of series of indi-
vidual animals, yet no one fully complete
In itself. The joints are capable of repro
ducing themselves, but have to depend
upon the head, or nurse" as it is called,
for nourishment; while the head supports
and nourishes the joints, bus has no power
OF reproduction.
New JOINTS are not formed at the extrem-
ity, but arise between the head and the sue
eeeaiag joints. tiaass pushing hack the old
ones. Il appears that the last formed does
not become perfect before another arises,
so that it is some distance back from the
head, in fact toward the extremity, that we
find the complete ones. The last having
completed its growth and ready to send
forth its spores, is sloughed off, and, pass
ing out of the alimantRry canal, leaves its
host.