TRICHINA SPIRALIS. 83 
In Italy, in the month of January, 1878, a consignment of hams 
was received in the departments of Milan and Turin from 
Cincinnati, which upon microscopical examination were infected 
with trichinee in the proportion of 3 in 40. Under the compulsory 
examination system in Germany, one in 2,000 was found infected 
in 1876, and one in 2,800 in 1877. 
In several of the countries already mentioned, microscopical 
examination is very exactly and rigorously practised, and premiums 
ranging from 15 to 30 shillings are awarded to inspectors who 
Fig. 9. Fig. 10. 
register real cases of trichinosis. In all cases of dispute the 
matter is referred to savants appointed by the Government, who 
have often to rectify errors of observation, notably the mistaking of 
vinegar eels (Anguillula aceti) for true Trichine. 
On March 8th, in the House of Commons, the President of the 
Local Government Board, in reply to Dr. Farquharson, member 
for West Aberdeenshire, stated that in consequence of the prevalence 
of, trichinosis in American and other hams and pork, he had 
directed a circular to be issued to the several sanitary authorities 
in the country, calling their attention to the precautions to be 
taken, and urging them to require of their medical officers especial 
vigilance in carrying out the Public Health Act. 
Trichina spiralis is a species of worm of the order Ccelelmintha 
and family Nematoidea, and is found in the living animal in two 
states: first agamous and encysted in the muscles where it forms 
opaque white specks, and secondly, sexual and free, in the intestinal 
mucous. In the adult state, the male measures about ith of an 
inch in length, the female being 3 to 4 times the length of the 
male. The female is viviparous and very prolific, from 200 to 1000 
young trichinee having been observed within the female, and when 
