Parasites of Muscular and Connective Tissue. 431 



copious injections with glycerine or even salt should be 

 thrown into the colon. In this way the bowels may be cleared of 

 the greater part of the parasites and the disease aborted or ren- 

 dered mild and often harmless. Other vermifuges may be tried 

 but none is so effective and harmless as glycerine. Alcohol in „ 

 concentrated solution (whisky, brandy) has been recommended, 

 but it is useless in dilute solution and such a volatile agent is so 

 rapidly absorbed, that it is only in the stomach that the degree of 

 concentration can be confidently secured. The stomach can be 

 more promptl}' cleared by emetics. Its value is, therefore, mainly 

 as an adjunct to emetics in the earliest stages. Mosler, who in- 

 troduced benzine (i dr. twice daily), abandoned it on the same 

 account. It ma5^ however, be made an adjunct of emetics. 



In every case, of course, the patient must be protected from any 

 further access of trichinae through food or water. 



When the muscular symptoms have appeared nothing can be 

 done to destroy the wandering embryos, yet the remaining swarm 

 in the bowels may still be expelled so as to restrict the migration 

 as far as possible. The muscular pains may be calmed by mor- 

 phine, phenacetin or chloral hydrate with warm baths. The 

 patient should have nourishing and easily digested food to main- 

 tain the strength. 



Prevention in Swine. As pork is almost the only channel 

 through which trichinae invade the human system, the absolute 

 extinction of trichina in the pig would virtually put an end to 

 outbreaks of trichinosis in man. The main precautions may be 

 enumerated in order : 1 



1. No pig feeding should be allowed in connection with 

 slaughter-houses or rendering works. The feeding of swine 

 on the raw offal or scraps of animals (and especially hogs) slaugh- 

 tered must sooner or later lead to an epizootic of trichinosis in 

 the herd. Even if extraordinary precautions are taken to boil 

 thoroughly all waste products of the abattoir before they are given 

 to the pigs, this will not prevent the rats, mice and other vermin 

 from preying on the fresh scraps and meat, infesting themselves 

 and conveying the trichinae indirectly to the hog pen. 



2. Rats, mice and other vermin should be carefully ex- 

 terminated from all piggeries. After the pig these are the 

 most frequent hosts of the trichina, which they get from kitchen 



