CYSTICERCUS DISEASE OF THE PIG. 



77 



In this method of examining the tongue, the operator commences by 

 throwing the animal on its side, usually on the right side, and holding 

 it in this position by placing his left knee on its neck. He then passes 

 a thick stick between the jaws and behind the tusks, opens the mouth 

 obliquely, raising the upper jaw by manipulating the stick. Finally he 

 fixes one end of this last by placing his foot upon it, and holds the 

 other extremity by slipping it under his left arm. In this position he 

 is able to grasp the free end of the tongue and by digital palpation to 

 examine the tongue itself, the gums, the free portions of the fraenum 

 linguae, etc. 



If he discovers cysts, the diagnosis is confirmed, but failure to do so 



Fig. 35. — Gravid segment of pork-measle tapeworm {Tcenia 

 solium), showing the lateral branches of the uterus enlarged. 

 (Stiles, Keport U.S.A. Bureau of Agriculture, 1901.) 



by no means disposes of the possibility of infection. Eailliet declares 

 that about one animal in four or five shows no cysts beneath the tongue, 

 and, moreover, fraud is possible in this connection, it being quite possible 

 to prick the little cysts with a needle so that the liquid contents escape, 

 and examination gives no positive result. For these reasons intra-vitam 

 examination alone is now discounted, and the chief reliance is placed on 

 post-mortem search. 



Prognosis. The prognosis is very grave, not on account of danger to 

 the lives of the infected, but because infected meat may be offered for 

 human consumption. Should such meat, in an insufficiently cooked 

 condition, be eaten by man, its ingestion is followed by the development 

 of Tcenia solium. If cooking were always perfect it would destroy the 



