TRICHINOSIS SCHWARTZ 429 



given wide publicity. The statistical information on the prevalence 

 of trichinae in swine in this country has been published repeatedly as 

 a warning to the public that the consumption of raw or inadequately 

 cooked pork may be fraught with serious, if not fatal, consequences. 

 Practically all the constructive measures designed to protect the 

 American public from the danger of acquiring trichinosis originated 

 in the Federal Bureau of Animal Industry. 



Recently several writers either stated or implied that the persist- 

 ence of trichinosis in man, despite the warnings issued by the Bureau 

 of Animal Industry as to the importance of cooking pork as a health 

 safeguard, is evidence that these warnings are not heeded and are, 

 therefore, futile. In the opinion of this writer such a conclusion is 

 erroneous and contrary to a sound public health policy. Thorough 

 cooking of pork in the home and in public eating places is the most 

 effective known weapon against human trichinosis and is entirely 

 practical. A systematic and persistent campaign on the importance 

 of thorough cooking of meat, sponsored by public health agencies, 

 would in all probability reduce the incidence of trichinosis and of 

 nonclinical trichina infections. It is suggested that public health 

 officials and practicing physicians may properly emphasize that the 

 eating of raw or partially cooked meat is an unliygienic habit that 

 may be fraught with unpleasant if not serious consequences, not only 

 as regards trichinae and other parasites transmissible from food ani- 

 mals to man, but also as regards the danger of acquiring infectious 

 diseases. 



Since, as already stated, trichinosis and nonclinical trichina infec- 

 tions in human beings in this country are due to the consumption 

 of raw or inadequately cooked pork or inadequately cooked or cured 

 meat food products containing pork muscle tissue, it is evident that 

 the eradication of trichinae from hogs would eliminate trichinosis 

 from human beings. The ultimate eradication of trichinae from 

 hogs in the United States is a problem confronting livestock sanitary 

 officials. Bureau of Animal Industry inspectors engaged in field 

 work and others have emphasized for years the advantages of the 

 swine sanitation system for profitable swine production. Under the 

 sanitation system of swine management, most of the known sources 

 of trichinae are precluded. Livestock sanitarians throughout the 

 United States could, by concerted effort, sharply reduce the preva- 

 lence of, and ultimately eradicate, trichinae from swine by educating 

 swine producers on sanitary methods of management. . 



The eradication of human trichinosis is a problem confronting 

 public health officials primarilj^ with supplementary aid from live 

 stock sanitary officials. Adequate cooking of pork in the home and 

 in public eating places, adequate processing under State or local 



