NEMATODA 165 



" If the animals do not die of the general symptoms or local 

 disturbances proper to these two stages, the inflammatory sym- 

 ptoms cease, respiration becomes natural, and order is re-esta- 

 blished. But, in some cases, the number of cysts formed in 

 the muscles are sufficiently great to impede them in the proper 

 exercise of their functions, and hence arises general debility, a 

 kind of consumption which persists or becomes aggravated, and 

 the animal dies of marasmus. M. Davaine has noticed this in 

 rabbits, but especially in a rat. 



" Recovery from these phases of trichinal infection may be 

 apparently perfect. A rabbit which M. Davaine kept during 

 five months became large and fat, although it had a large 

 number of Trichinae in its muscles ; a rat which had had these 

 entozoa in considerable numbers during six months was, to all 

 appearance, in good health. Hence he concludes that the 

 Trichinae produce symptoms only when they are in the intes- 

 tinal canal, and when they are entering the muscles. Having 

 become lodged in their cysts among the muscular fibres, they 

 may remain harmless for an indefinite time. In every case 

 except one, down to 1859, Tri chinas have been found in the 

 bodies of persons who have died of disease (generally chronic) 

 or by accident ; or in the dissecting-room, in bodies regarding 

 which the previous history could not be obtained. In most cases 

 the cysts contained a cretaceous or fatty deposit, showing that 

 they had probably existed several years. 



" The observations which have been made on the human 

 subject, in regard to the symptoms caused by Trichinae, show 

 that they belong, as in animals, to the initial period of infec- 

 tion. They consist in intestinal and in muscular lesions ; the 

 latter coincide with the entrance of the parasite into the 

 muscles, and are truly traumatic. In Zenker's case the intestinal 

 symptoms were swelling and pain ; in a case described by 

 Friedreich diarrhoea was present. In all cases the most 

 remarkable symptoms were violent rheumatoid pains in the 

 muscles, not in the joints, which were considerably aggravated 

 by attempts to extend the half-bent limbs. The other sym- 

 ptoms have been variable, but have had a strong resemblance 

 to those of typhoid fever. In several cases there has been 

 abundant sweating ; and in one there was a very remarkable 

 miliary and furuncular eruption. The animal heat was dimin- 

 ished in Friedreich's case ; and in those observed in Voigtland 

 by Freytag the temperature never exceeded 102 Fahr. 



