410 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



affected with rheumatism, Mr. Coburn recommends in treatment a tablespoonful of cod-liver 

 oil once or twice a day, mixed with their food, which should be of a soft and nourishing 

 character. 



Trichina. The disease known in the human family by this name is caused by a small 

 parasite, which is generally found in the muscles of voluntary motion. This parasite is found 

 in the muscles of all animals, but is most common in those of the human species, the hog, 

 and rat. Trichinae are very small, varying from one-eighteenth to one-sixth of an inch in 

 length. When encysted in the muscles, the cysts are slightly oval, as will be seen by the 



ADULT INTESTINAL TRICHINA MUSCLE TRICHINA ENCYSTED. MAGNIFIED. 



SPIRALIS. MAGNIFIED. 



accompanying cut of a magnified one, taken from the muscles of a hog. The mature and 

 fertile worm lives in the intestines of the animal and there lays its eggs. 



As soon as the eggs hatch, the young trichinae at once migrate by eating their way 

 through the intestines, and find their way into the voluntary muscles, and in course of five 

 or six weeks from the time of hatching, they become encysted in the muscles, and will do no 

 farther injury to the man or animal containing them, but during the five or six weeks in 

 which they are migrating to the muscles, the great danger lies, as this is attended with pain, 

 exhaustion, and emaciation, which frequently results fatally. When meat containing the 

 encysted trichinae is taken into the stomach, it develops into a mature parasite which lays its 

 eggs in the intestines, which soon hatch. 



The symptoms are frequently mistaken for rheumatism, the muscles affected becoming 

 swollen, sore, and painful, being attended with emaciation and exhaustion. Animals 

 affected with trichinae seem dull, and disinclined to move about; there is a loss of appetite, 

 and a soreness and stiffness of the body generally, especially the hind parts. 



If they live through the sixth week of the disease they will recover, but their flesh 

 should never be used for food. 



Prevention is about all that can be done, as treatment is of little avail. It usually 

 happens that not until cutting up the meat and having it closely examined, that the disease is 

 noticed. Hogs should never be fed on the offal from slaughter houses, or raw meat of any 

 kind, and their pens should be kept free from rats and mice. Hogs should also never be 

 permitted to have access to the excrement of human beings or dogs, as it may contain the 

 eggs or embryos of the parasite. Pork should never be eaten that has not been well cooked, 

 for trichinae will survive a temperature of 140. 



Worms. When pigs have the usual appetite for food, and, although well fed, have 

 an unthrifty Appearance, it may well be suspected that something is wrong. A convincing 

 proof that worms may be the cause of the difficulty may occasionally be had in such cases 

 by finding them in the excrement. For diet, give a plenty of sour food, such as sour milk, 

 sour fruit, also raw onions, acorns, potatoes, turnips, etc., and let them have access to charcoal 

 and ashes, avoiding impure water from stagnant pools or other sources, at all times. Give 



