TRICHINOUS INFECTION OF MAN AND ANIMALS. 171 



The discovery of this parasitic disease in man, which had un- 

 doubtedly existed for ages, aroused at once the zeal of professional 

 experts and veterinarians, and was the dawn of a new era in sanitary 

 science. Here was the key which has now successfully unlocked the 

 mysterious histor}' of many epidemics, that had heietofoie haffled 

 the medical wisdom of all nations to explain. With this h'/luiintho- 

 logical revelation, human and comparative pathology joined hands 

 to explore certain realms in the causation of disease, and thus point 

 out the remedy that was destined to relieve the sufferings of millions 

 of human beings that might fall victims to this parasitic malady. 



The symptoms of trichinous infection in man will depend largely 

 ipon the quantity of diseased meat that has been eaten, and also 

 upon the stage of the malady. The invasion of the disease is marked 

 b}' local irritation within the intestinal tract, caused by the liberation 

 and development of the encysted trichin.ne that the patient has eaten. 

 The millions of new-born worms that immediately follow give rise to 

 nausea, loss of appetite, inflammation of the mucous surface of the 

 bowels and diarrhoea. Peritonitis mav sometimes occur, from the 

 perforation of the intestinal walls, in the escape of the larval para- 

 sites. 



The second stage is characterized by general symptoms, muscular 

 pains, rheumatism, etc., occasioned by the migration of the worms 

 in the various parts of the body. There is great soreness, oedema, 

 ^nd stiffness of the muscles. Lassitude and profuse sweating not 

 unusually occur in severe cases, and in this respect it resembles 

 typhoid fever, for which it has many times been mistaken. This stage 

 commeiices in about ten da^s from the first illness, and lasts focir or 

 five weeks. 



In the third phase of the malady the trichinae have become encysted, 

 the fever, soreness, and inflammation begin to abate, and the patient 

 is in a fair way to recover. In many cases there is a complete resto- 

 ration to health again, but often it leaves the system in a very pros- 

 trate condition, according to the amount of muscular lesion that has 

 taken place. 



Those suffering from a mild and insidious form of the disease are 

 QOt unfrequently able to walk about, yet feel tired and exhausted. 

 They may have a good appetite, and the bowels regular. In such 

 oases the pulse is but slightly disturbed, and the patient sleeps 

 soundly, as though nothing was the matter. Lancinating pains soon 



12 



