676 DISEASES OF SWINE 



from this water to the stomach and intestines of the hog. Here 

 they hatch out into a small embryo which is provided with six 

 little hooklets. With the aid of these hooks the parasite pene- 

 trates the wall of the stomach and bowel and wanders off into the 

 muscular tissues, where it becomes lodged. Acting as a foreign 

 body, it produces a mild degree of irritation, and finally becomes 

 surrounded by a thin wall of connective tissue within which is a 

 small quantity of fluid, the entire mass being classed as a cyst. 



These cysts are not much larger than a small grain of wheat, 

 and often as small as the head of a pin. They may later on 

 be the seat of deposit for calcium salts, and become hard and 

 shiny. In these old cysts the parasite is usually found to be dead. 

 The parasite in this cystic form is known scientifically as the 

 Cysticercus cellulosce, and is found in the muscular structures of 

 the body, especially in the muscles of the head, the loins, the 

 heart, the diaphragm, and the tongue. The eating of meat con- 

 taining these cysts will produce tapeworm in man, as the wall of 

 the cyst is digested in the human stomach and the httle embryo 

 escapes, after which it rapidly develops into a mature parasite, 

 which is known as the Taenia solium, or armed tapeworm. 



As the parasite produces no symptoms in the living hog, it is 

 of interest principally from a meat inspection standpoint, and 

 from its importance in producing tapeworm in man. No treat- 

 ment for the condition is required or possible, except preventive 

 measures to limit, in so far as possible, the contamination of water 

 with the bowel discharges of human beings that may be affected 

 with the tapeworm. This is of importance not only in the pre- 

 vention of infestation with this parasite, but also in preventing 

 many other more severe epidemic diseases of both man and 

 animal. 



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