302 STATE BOARD OF AGEICULTUEE. 



midst of such filth as excrement from man or bogs, we can easily see how the 

 mature forms may again enter the intestines and thus scatter the plague. 



Why Man is LiahU to Attaclc. 



The fact that the human tissues afford the most acceptable pasturage for 

 these dreaded parasites, and as but few of the human family are Jews, and thus 

 debarred from a liberal allowance of pork in their diet, which, therefore, is 

 now a staple article of food in all countries, in many of which it is relished and 

 eaten when partially or wholly uncooked, with the added fact that the usual 

 preparation of smoke and salt is no security against the life of the parasites, at 

 once explains the fact that man is an ever ready target for this awful disease, 

 from which, as yet, knowledge and caution form the only sure armor of defense. 

 It is true that if the worms are not very numerous the person attacked may 

 suifer little disturbance and soon recover. Very likely a half million of the 

 parasites would fail to disable a person of a good vigorous constitution. This 

 might seem the silver lining to thiS overhanging cloud. Yet when I state that 

 a single ounce of pork may contain 300,000,000 trichiuro the silver vanishes and 

 we see that one meal of pork may swing wide open ths portal to the tomb. In 

 a little sausage, hardly equal in size to the finger nail, I have found scores of 

 the young trichinw, and often in a piece smaller than a pin head I have discov- 

 ored under the microscope over a score of the encysted worms. So we see that 

 the danger is by no means imaginary, and that safety can only be secured by 

 great vigilance. 



Symjytoms of Trichinosis. 



As a preface to practical suggestions, let us glance at the symptoms of this 

 disease. At first, while the worms are confined to the stomach and intestines, , 

 there Avill be nausea, vomiting, retching, and diarrhosa. As the young com- 

 mence to migrate, and begin to feed upon the muscles, if very numerous, the 

 disease assumes a more startling nature, somewhat resembling tyjDhoid fever, 

 with acute rheumatism. There is profuse perspiration, great soreness of the 

 muscles, drawing up of the limbs, consequent upon the contraction of the irri- 

 tated muscles, labored breathing, dropsical swellings, rapid decline of vitality, 

 and speedy death. In case the sufferer survives, the recovery is slow, corres- 

 ponding in time with the encysting process in the muscles. Very often where 

 the attack is not fatal the person is left so demoralized physically that he becomes 

 a prey to consumption, or some of the other maladies ever in waiting to seize 

 upon the weak and feeble. Yet in many cases the victim entirely recovers, and 

 lives for years a perfect example of robust strength, which shows that hogs may 

 be sleek and fat, yet their flesh may teem with the fatal cysts. 



Practical Siiggestio ns. 



As already suggested, this terrible malady yet awaits a satisfactory remedy. 

 Early in the disease, while the intruders are still in tlie alimentary canal, we 

 may hope to expel the gavid females by the use of anthelmintics, such as pur- 

 gatives and emetics. Experiments seem to prove that this will at best be but 

 partially effective. Our greatest hope lies in the direction of some yet undis- 

 covered substance that, while it will be harmless to the individual, M'iil be fatal 

 to the worms. At present ghxerine has given the best results. It will kill the 

 worms, but whether it can be safely given in sufficient quantities to be effectual 

 is yet to be determined. 



