374 KEKmt OF THE BtTREATJ OF ATSTIMAL lM)tJ8TBlT. 



tro verted to this day, these broad deductions and statements of facts 

 are derived : 



It is conceded that the Trichina spiralis is found in American 

 swine, though the proportion of animals thus infested appears to be 

 less than in the countries of Europe. No definite conclusion as to 

 the manner in which swine become affected with the disease has been 

 reached. It is established that hogs may present every outward ap- 

 pearance of health and yet microscopical examination may develop 

 the presence of trichinas. 



In the human subject the disease is developed from eating freshly- 

 killed pork, either raw or only partially cooked. The virulence of 

 the disease diminishes with the time elapsing between the killing of 

 the animal and the consumption of the flesh. 



No case of trichiniasis has ever occurred in any European coun- 

 try as the result of eating cooked American pork, whether cured or 

 fresh. 



No authentic case of trichiniasis has been clearly established in 

 any European country resulting from the eating of cured American 

 swine products, as prepared in the export packing-houses, whether 

 the meat has been eaten raw or cooked. 



The prominent cases of trichiniasis occurring in foreign countries, 

 and ascribed to American pork, have in every instance on investiga- 

 tion been ascertained to be the result of eating home-killed swine, 

 or the product of other countries than the United States. 



The trichina can not long survive in well-salted meat. If trans- 

 mitted in its encysted state abroad in American pork the cyst of the 

 parasite is its tomb. The testimony of Professor Virchow is that 

 American trichinae lose their injurious properties through smoking, 

 salting, pickling, and especially through the long journey, and that 

 he has not been able to find one case of trichiniasis caused by Ameri- 

 can bacon or ham.* 



No case of trichiniasis has ever arisen from eating American canned 

 meats, because such meats are always subjected to a temperature 

 above boiling point, in some instances as high as 240 F. 



No death from trichiniasis has ever occurred in the United States 

 Army or Navy, though packed pork forms part of the daily food in 

 both branches of the service. No case of trichiniasis has ever been 

 brought under treatment in the United States Marine Hospital Serv- 

 ice. 



Though the annual consumption of hog products in the United 

 States amounts to over 4,200,000,000 pounds, no city or State, in the 

 exercise of its police powers, has found it necessary to attempt to 

 restrain the use of American pork meats on sanitary grounds, or for 

 any other reason. Fatal cases of trichiniasis are extremely rare in 

 the United States, and almost invariably occur among foreign-born 

 residents, and from eating uncooked the flesh of improperly fed 

 swine, such as would be immediately rejected if offered for sale to the 

 packing-houses which kill and cure hogs for the foreign market. 



In respect to the disease known as hog cholera, or swine plague, 

 the facts disclosed by the ofncial reports above referred to conclu- 

 sively establish- 



That the disease attacks most frequently young pigs before they 

 arrive at marketable age. 



* Professor Virchow, as quoted in the Magdeburger Zeitung, January 12, 1883. 

 Senate Report No. 345, 48th Congress, first session, p. 117, 



