PARASITES—TUMORS, 276 
gins on muscular fibers, which first increase in size, break and waste away ; 
the conjunctive tissue proliferates and becomes infiltrated with fat. Some- 
times the affected muscles appear as if hypertrophied ; but it is a pseudo- 
hypertrophy due to the increase of conjunctive and fatty elements: the 
muscular fibre is well atrophied. Erb has gathered the various myopathic 
amyotrophies under the name of progressive muscular dystrophy. The 
two principal forms of this group are the psewdo-hypertrophic muscular 
paralysis of Duchenne and the progressive atrophic myopathy of Landouzy 
and Déjerine. 
The treatment of some muscular atrophies of neuritic origin and of those 
due to long inactivity, to arterial thrombosis and to various infections, de- 
mands especially: massage of the affected muscles, moderate at first, and 
gradually increased ; irritating frictions upon the whole region occupied 
by the muscles in process of degeneration, and electro-therapeutics. (See 
Paralysis.) Iodide of potassium is sometimes useful. + 
Myelopathic and myopathic amyotrophies seem to be generally fatal. 
To this day they are considered as absolutely incurable. 
VI. 
PARASITES—TUMORS. 
Parasites of muscles are numerous. The psorosperms and ¢richine, 
which inhabit the fibre itself; the cysticerct, echinococct, botryomycetes and 
the actinomycetes prefer the connective tissue. There are no agents 
which can destroy the cysticerci and the trichinz ; only a well-regulated 
prophylaxis can protect man and animals. Let us mention, however, 
the results said to have been obtained by Feletti in the treatment’ of 
human cysticercosis with the ethereal extract of fern.’ : 
Against Aydatic cysts, medical agents or puncture followed by an injection 
of iodine are now seldom used. Total extirpation, with curettage of the 
culs de sac, is the best remedy. 
Primitive or secondary tumors may be observed in muscles. Their 
diagnosis is easy. The slow process of development of the neoplasm, its 
painless condition, and the absence of fluctuation are sufficient to indicate 
cystic collections and abscesses. ‘The treatment consists in removal, unless 
countermanded by generalization. Lipomas, myxomas, enchondromas, 
sarcomas, and epitheliomas demand total extirpation. 
Actinomycosic tumors should be treated with iodide of potassium, and 
in some cases should be extirpated. Those due to Jotryomycetes resist 
the iodine treatment or give way to it very slowly. (See Actnomycosis 
and Botryomycosis.) 
t Feletti ; Mercredi Médical, 1894, p. 417. 
