430 Veterinary Medicine. 



portion of muscle. The simplest trichina harpoon is made like a 

 fish-hook, the reversed barbs of which are double. This is pushed 

 into the middle of the affected muscle and in being pulled out 

 draws with it a small portion of the muscular tissue which is then 

 put under the microscope. The punch of Duchenne is a fine 

 trochar and cannula about 2 mm. in diameter, and presenting 

 near the point of the cannula a notch, the distal border of which 

 is sharp and cutting ; the trochar has a similar notch which cor- 

 re.sponds to that of the cannula when slightly withdrawn. The 

 trochar is driven home before it is inserted into the su.spected 

 muscle, it is then drawn out about ^ inch, and the instrument 

 being withdrawn it is found to enclose a particle of the muscular 

 tissue In making a selection in slight cases or in the early 

 stages of the disease a preference should be given to the abdomi- 

 nal and posterior intercostal muscles, and in every case to the 

 extremities of the muscular fibers, close to their insertion on ten- 

 don or fascia. Owing to the exce.ss of fat the pig is a less .satis- 

 factory subject for harpooning than the human being. In re- 

 moval of a portion of muscle by incision, the skin may be cleaned 

 by a soapy wash, wet with an antiseptic, and injected with a 4 

 per cent, solution of cocaine. In ten minutes, incision may be 

 made, a small portion of muscle cut out close to the tendon and 

 the wound closed by suture. (For microscopic examination see 

 below). 



Treatment. This is of value while the trichinae are confined 

 to the intestines, and the earlier it is adopted the more hopeful is 

 the attempt to abort the attack. If the patient is seen just after 

 the ingestion of the trichinous flesh and before it has left the 

 stomach, active vomiting by J^ to i grain tartar emetic with 

 tepid water, and tickling of the fauces with a feather may succeed 

 in expelling the greater part of the offensive ingesta. Or apomor- 

 phia may be employed in.stead. If seen later, after digestion has 

 been effected, the stomach pump or tube (syphon) may be em- 

 ployed to wash out the finely disintegrated and liquid contents. In 

 this case the liquid used to wash out the stomach may contain one 

 to two ounces of glycerine as a non-poisonous trichinicide. 



The bowels should be cleared by a full dose of castor oil or 

 calomel, and a dose of glycerine as above will be an useful ad- 

 dition. The purgative may be repeated daily for some days, and 



