4-1, 



TRANSLATIONS. 



Note on Trichina spiralis. By Professor Viuchow, 



('Comptes Reudus,' July 2, ISGO, p. 13.) 



I HAD the honour last autumn of communicating to the 

 Academy some of the first results of my researches respecting 

 the development of Trichince introduced into the animal 

 economy through the digestive passages. 



Since then the Academy has been made acquainted with 

 the researches of Professor Leuckart, which appeared, in 

 contradiction to mine, to show that Trichocephalus was a 

 stage in the regular development of Trichina. 



Subsequent observations have proved that Trichina repre- 

 sents a distinct genus of entozoa, and Professor Leuckart 

 has himself recognised the truth of my first observations. 



It is in rabbits that I have been able to trace the develop- 

 ment of the Trichina. When a rabbit has been made to 

 eat meal containing Trichince, after three or four weeks it 

 will be perceived to become emaciated; its strength is sensibly 

 ''^'■"- diminished, and it dies about the fifth or sixth week after 

 ;-^ the ingestion of the trichinized food. The voluntary muscles 

 '^' of the deceased animal will be found filled with millions of 

 Trichina ; and there can be no doubt that death has ensued 

 from a progressive muscular atrophy, consecutive upon the 

 migrations of the Trichince into the system. 



In one case I was myself witness of the animaFs death. It 

 was so weak that it could not stand on its feet ; lying upon 

 the side, it exhibited from time to time slight struggles ; at 

 last the respiratory movements ceased, whilst the heart con- 

 tinued to beat regularly ; death took place after a few con- 

 vulsive movements. 



By this method of feeding I have obtained four generations 

 of entozoa. I first fed a rabbit with living Trichince occupying 

 a human muscle ; it died at the end of a month. I then 

 administered to a second rabbit som" f^f the flesh of the 



