1 ^'^ 



Ruschenberger.] . a.uu [April 1, 



The discovery that Tricliina spiralis infests the hog is, in its economic 

 relations, among the most important observations Dr. Leidy ever made. 



Very soon after Dr. Leidy's discovery became generally known in 

 Europe, the importation of American pork by Austria-Hungary, Ger- 

 many, etc , was arrested, under a belief that American hogs are very often 

 infested by this parasite. Recently, however, relying upon tlie system of 

 inspection establislied by American authority, American pork is no longer 

 excluded from European countries in which immense quantities of pork 

 are consumed in the form of smoked meat, imperfectly cooked. Whether 

 the Germans suppose, as has been asserted, that one pound- of raw pork 

 contains as much nourishment as a pound and a quarter well cooked, or 

 prefer the taste of it simply smoked, is an open question. Be this as it may,, 

 it is now known that thorough cooking renders trichinous pork harmless. 



Though the most ancient of lawgivers declared swine to be "unclean," 

 unwholesome food, it does not seem supposable that he anticipated Leidy 

 and knew that the pigs of his time were infested by this microscopic 

 parasite. 



Trichinae found now in man, it is believed, are derived from the hog, 

 but whence the hog receives the parasite has not been demonstrated. 



Dr. Leidy was chosen a member of the American Philosophical Society 

 October 19, 1849. Though not frequently present at its meetings, he con- 

 tributed several papers to its Transactions and Proceedings. 



Need of very much more space to properly accommodate the rapidly 

 growing library and museum of the Academy had been apparent for some 

 time, and had become so pressing that, early in 1806, measures were 

 adopted to supply the want. Forty members were appointed a com- 

 mittee to solicit citizens generally to contribute to a Building Fund. Dr. 

 Leidy was one of them, but it is believed that his modesty prevented him 

 from actively participating in the work. A trust was created. The con- 

 tributors were to elect thirteen members of the Academy Trustees of the 

 Building Fund, with authority to purchase a site and erect thereon a 

 Buitable edifice. They represented the contributors, to whose bounty 

 alone the Academy would be indebted for the proposed new building. 

 "When the subscriptions amounted to $100,000, the fund was placed in 

 the custody of the Trustees. 



This method of procedure was designed to remove the subject from the 

 meetings of the Academy, and to avoid delays in construction, which, it 

 was conjectured, might arise from officious meddling of non-contributing 

 members, if the work were confided to a Committee of the Society. 



Dr. Leidy was elected a member of the first Board of Trustees of the 



See, On Poisoning by Diseased Pork, being an essay on trichinosis or flesh-worm 

 disease, its prevention and cure. By Julius Althaus, M.D., M.R.C.P., London, Physician 

 to the Royal Infirmary for Diseases of the Chest, 8vo., pp. 34. John Churchill & Sons, 

 London, 1864. 



Also, Animal Parasites and Messmates. By P. J. Bencden, Professor at the University of 

 Louvain ; correspondent of the Institute of France, with 83 illustrations. D. Appleton 

 & Co., New York, 1876. 



