37 



exclusively so. It has been pointed out by Devaine, that the 

 debris of an animal eaten by carnivora, may become fatal to 

 rodents, and a carcass infested with Trichinje, decomposing- near 

 a river or marsh, may communicate the parasite to man or animals 

 drinking the water. This would explain its occasional presence 

 in the horse, ox and sheep, where according to his authority it is 

 occasionally found. Birds seem almost impervious to its attacks. 

 A Hippopotamus was found infected in France. The Pig 

 is, however, the only animal which really concerns us. It is 

 obvious that it must get its supply from without. Hence pigs 

 carefully fed in styes are scarcely ever affected ; but it is 

 different when they are allowed to roam about, picking up all 

 kinds of offal, as is frequently the case in Ireland and other 

 places. 



Pigs, like men, seem to suffer according to the number of 

 TrichinjB present. Fleming describes symptoms very similar to 

 those mentioned before, as belonging to the human species. On 

 the other hand, Kuhne of Halle, in 1875, made special investi- 

 gation into this point. Pigs were fed with Trichinous flesh, and 

 daily watched by Veterinary surgeons, and their health was 

 scarcely disturbed at all, although posf-mortem, they were found 

 to contain a large number of Trichinte. Pigs are supposed to be 

 for the most part infected by eating rats. These animals seem 

 to acquire and tolerate the worms with remarkable facility. 

 Belfield fed a white rat, three weeks' old, on Trichinous flesh ; he 

 grew rapidly and enjoyed the best of health, yet when killed, his 

 muscles from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail, were 

 literally alive with Trichinae. Rats living near knackeries seem 

 specially liable to be infected ; thus in Boston, of 51 rats caught 

 in a slaughter-house, 30 contained Trichinge. In another case, 

 40 rats caught were all found Tiichinised, whereas, 28 fowls in 

 the same establishment were all free. Similar facts have been 

 noticed in Saxony. As to their origin in this part of the world. 

 Professor Gerlach thinks they have been imported from China, in 

 the Chinese race of pigs, but upon what grounds I cannot say. 



What is the remedy ? Well of course, the avoidance of 

 pork ; but if we must eat pork, it should be thoroughly cooked. 

 The most dangerous article of food seems to be sausages, 

 especially smoked sausages, as they are liable to be eaten without 

 ever having been exposed to a high temperature. After these, 



