The Trichina Spiralis. 87 



to exist. Among; the animals in which Trichinae are 

 found without the intervention of human agency, are: the 

 hog, cat, rat and mouse, mole, badger, etc.; and of 

 birds, the owl, crow, raven, hawk, etc. Besides these, it 

 is found that the administration of diseased meat will pro- 

 duce the Trichinae in the Guinea-pig and rabbit, and the 

 chicken and pigeon. It has been found impossible to tri- 

 chinose beef, horse, ass, mutton, etc., in the goose, duck or 

 turkey. Experiments have also been tried on fishes, but 

 with a negative result. It is by no means probable that 

 Trichinosis is so rare a disease as it is commonly supposed 

 to be. 



It is not an easy disease to detect, because it has 

 no pathognomonic symptoms. During the first period 

 the symptoms might easily be mistaken for those of dys- 

 entery while during the second stage the cedema of the 

 face and limbs greatly resemble the early stages of Bright's 

 disease of the kidneys, and the muscular pains are not 

 unlike some severe cases of rheumatism. The third period 

 has, according to Virchow, been mistaken for consumption. 

 The epidemic of Trichinosis which occurred at Hettstadt 

 was at first considered to be cholerine, while that at Mag- 

 debourg was for some time called by a false name. 



In a medico-legal point of view, this disease presents 

 points of great interest. The following case will give a 

 just idea of its importance ; 



In February, 1865, Langenbek operated upon a man at 

 Berlin for a tumor of the neck. During the operation, he 

 remarked that the muscles were filled with encysted trich- 

 inae. Upon asking this man if he had ever had any 

 previous illness, he stated that in 1845, he had with others 

 inspected the schools at Jessen; that eight of them had 

 breakfasted together upon ham, sausage and white wine, 

 with the exception of one who only took a glass of red 

 wine. All the other seven, including the man who had 



