166 PARASITES OF MAX 



" The progress, duration, and severity of the disease in man 

 are in relation to the number of Trichinae taken into the 

 digestive canal. Of sixteen patients observed at Plauen by 

 Drs Bohler and Konigsdorffer, eight, who were moderately 

 affected, recovered in a month ; four, more severely diseased, 

 were ill two months ; of four others, one died with ascites and 

 colliquative diarrhoea at the end of two months, and three 

 recovered slowly at the end of three or four months. Recovery 

 does not imply the death of the Trichinae, it follows their 

 enclosure in cysts. 



" The diagnosis of trichinal infection has several times been 

 made in the living human subject by removing a portion of 

 muscle. M. Davaine thinks it probable that, during the first 

 six or eight weeks of the disease, the diagnosis may be con- 

 firmed by searching for adult Trichinae in the alvine evacuations, 

 produced naturally or by means of a purgative. 



" The prophylactic treatment consists simply in the avoidance 

 of uncooked meat. The medicinal treatment must vary with 

 the stage of the disease. At first, attempts must be made to 

 expel the parasites from the intestines by purgatives and 

 anthelmintics. Which amongst the latter is the most energetic 

 is not yet determined. Calomel is, perhaps, M. Davaine 

 thinks, the best. After six or eight weeks all treatment 

 directed towards the intestines is superfluous. It is scarcely 

 probable that any substance will act on the larvae disseminated 

 through the muscles. Friedreich has recommended picronitrate 

 of potash ; but, in the case in which he used it, live Trichinae 

 were found in the muscular tissue after the patient was con- 

 sidered to be cured/' 



In regard to the possibility of curing trichiniasis by the 

 administration of drugs which should act as trichinacides upon 

 the parasites in the condition of flesh-worms, the absurdity of 

 the proposal only equals that which was made in reference to 

 the destruction of hydatids by the administration of katnala. 

 As has been shown in the record of my first experiment the 

 flesh of a trichinised corpse may be thoroughly saturated with 

 a strong solution of chloride of zinc, and yet the worms will 

 remain quite unaffected. 



In reference to the dangers arising from the consumption of 

 diseased meat, Professor Gamgee has very cogently put two 

 questions : " Did Moses know more about pigs than we do ? }> 

 " Was it a knowledge of the parasitic diseases of swine and man 



