Evening star., 1937-06-03
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field.
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY

A hidden disease which Stimulates
the syndromes of at least so better
known diseases ard is confused with
them in diagnosis is being uncovered by
DR.. Maurice C. Hall of the National
Institute of Health.
1t may affect as much as ten per cent
of the population of the United States
This disease, known in the world for
a long time, but supposedly very rare
until the recent investigations of DR.
Hall and DR.. Benjamin J. Collins, is
trichinosis, or infestation of the body
by the larvae of tiny worm which is
found in raw or poorly cooked or cured
pork.
Their first findings were announced
before the American Association for the
Advancement of Science last Christmas
They had examined nearly 1000 bodies
OF persons dying In "a hospitals scat
tered all over the United States. They
found evidence of trichinosis in more
than IL per cent, although not single
case had been diagnosed as such and
all had died from other causes. How far
the trichlnae infestation was con-
tributing cause of death cannot be
estimated
The reason why this prevalent malady
has remained hidden, DR.. Hall says in
paper just published by the Public
Health Service, is that the symptoms it
causes are easily and naturally con-
fused with those of other conditions.
What they are depends on what part
Of the system is infested with the tiny
worms The list prepared by DR.. Hall
Is nightmarish:
1nteStines: GaStroenteritis. constipa-
ton, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdom-
inal pains, cold sweats, hot fushes, in
testinal hemorrhageS, fever. Such q
case may be diagnosed as typhoid fever,
paratyphoid fever, cholera, cholera NOR
bus. intestinal influenza, malaria, pto-
maine poisoning, food poisoning, gas
trointestinal catarrah, appendicitis, COL
tits, peptic ulcer, gall bladder involve
ment and acute alcoholism.
Blood stream and muscles: Eosino-
philia. oligemia oligocythemia, hypo-
tension, leucocytosis, splenic enlarge
ment, anemia, edema in various parts
of the body, dyspnoea, orthopnoea, dia-
phragmatic breathing, pleurisy, cough,
hiccough, asthma, hemoptysis, pneu-
monia, dysphagia, aphonia, laryngitis,
myositis, myalgia, furunculosis, cuta-
neous eruptions, urticaria, rose spots, des-
quamation, sweating, apathy, lassitude,
somnolence or insomnia, anorexia, con-
junctivitis, corneal ecchymoses, my
driasis, photophobia, diplopia pulse
often slow by comparison with height of
fever, albuminuria present or absent,
indicanuria present or absent, positive
diazo reaction, casts in urine, positive
Kernig's sign, loss of patellar and Achil-
les tendon ref1exes, neuritis, rigor, per-
sistent or remittent fever, and men,
Strual disturbances; diagnosed as arth-
ritis, rheumatism, rheumatic fever, der
matomyositis, pelvic in1ammatory dis
ease, pleurisy, asthma, upper respiratory
infection, pneumonia, laryngitis,. con-
junctivitis, nephritis, multiple neuritis,
tntercostal neuritis, angioneurotlc edema,
syphilis, tuberculosis, undulant fever,
tetanus, scarlet fever, measles, mumps,
influenza frontal sinusitis, erysipelas,
and lead poisoning.
Larvae in heart-Symptoms Myocar-
ditis, systolic murmur at apex, cardiac
liability, and dicrotic pulse; diagnosed
as myocarditis, rheumatic myocardltls,
endocarditis, Or other heart diseases
Larvae in brain and meninges.-Symp-
toms: Encephalitis, meningitis, cephal-
algia, hemiplegia, delirium, and coma;
diagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis
tuberculous meningitis, and policmvelitis
In many cases. DR.. Hall admits, the
trichinosis may give no clinical symptoms
and have very little effect on the persons
general health. Ee sAySa