78 



DISEASES OF MUSCLES AND TENDONS. 



Fig. 36. — Eggs of pork- 

 ineasle tapeworm {Tcenia 

 solium) : a, with primi- 

 tive vitelline membrane ; 

 6, without primitive vitel- 

 line membrane, but with 

 striated embryophore. 

 X 450. (After Leuckart.) 



cysticerci, but the uncertainty in this respect should prevent such meat 



being consumed. The cysticerci are killed at 

 a temperature of 125° to 130° Fahr. 



Lesions. The lesions are represented by 

 cysts alone — i.e., by semi-transparent bladders, 

 each of which contains a scolex or head armed 

 with four suckers and a double crown of hooks. 

 The little bladders are most commonly found 

 in the muscles, lodged in the interfascicular 

 tissue, which they slightly irritate. 



The number present varies extremely, 



depending on the intensity of infestation and 



the number of eggs swallowed. Whilst in 



some cases difficult to discover, in others 



they are so numerous that the tissues 



appear strewn with them. 



They are commonest in the muscles 

 of the tongue, neck, and shoulders, in 

 the intercostal and psoas muscles, and in 

 those of the quarter. 



The viscera — viz., the liver, kidneys, 

 heart, lungs, etc. — are less commonly in- 

 fested, and in these organs the cysts 

 degenerate very rapidly. In animals 

 which have been infested for a long time, 

 the cysts may even have undergone caseo- 

 calcareous degeneration, the liquid being 

 absorbed and the lesions presenting the 

 appearance of little oblong firm nodules. 



On cutting through masses of muscle 

 the vesicles protrude from between the 

 bundles. 



In young animals, infestation with 

 cysticerci causes wasting and ill-health; 

 subsequently the patients improve in 

 appearance, later on fatten, and gain 

 marketable condition. 



Of the carcases examined in Prussian 

 slaughter-houses between 1876 — 82, one 

 in every 305 was found infested ; between 

 1885—93, one in every 537. ^'^- ^^--^^If of hog, showing the 



_, , i mi • i • , , portions most likely to become 



Treatment. There is no curative treat- i^f,,^,^ with pork measles. 

 ment. Only preventive measures are of (After Ostertag.) 



