346 



ENTOZOA. 



showed none of these symptoms, being considered all right ; whilst 

 the unfortunate butcher who killed the pig has since died from eating 

 its flesh." In this quotation I have added a few words in brackets 

 to render the translation more readable, but, otherwise, the facts 

 are stated precisely as I have recorded them. Again, the " Zeitung 

 far Norddeutschland " for December 18, 1863, says: — "Eighty 

 persons fell ill with the Trichina disease in Plauen, [but only] one 

 died. In Magdeburg, during 1858 — 62, according to official 

 statements, 300 persons have fallen ill of the disease, and only two 

 died. In Calhe, near Magdeburg, during the summer of 1862, 

 out of thirty-eight persons attacked, eight died ; whilst, in Blauken- 

 burg, two died out of sixty. In Hettstadt twenty out of 135."* 

 As a consequence of all this, it is subsequently mentioned, that 

 several butchers in Berlin had agreed amongst themselves to have 

 thei» meat examined by some competent helminthologist. 



From these records, which it is quite unnecessary to extend, it 

 is easy to perceive that although, in the majority of instances, the 

 Trichina disease does not cause death, yet the percentage of fatal 

 cases is by no means insignificant. The notion that particular 

 breeds of swine are more liable to be infested than others is 

 scarcely likely to prove correct, especially when it is considered 

 how many other kinds of domesticated animals are liable to the 

 same parasite-invasion. On this point, indeed, it is needless to 



* Since the above was in MS., a short paper has appeared in the pages of the 

 " Lancet," by Dr. W. Miiller. Writing from Homburg, he records the case of a relative 

 of his, at Hettstaedt, whom, on being summoned, he found suffering from the Trichina 

 helminthiasis. Alluding to the epidemic he says : — " Previous to my departure from 

 Hettstaedt, eighteen to twenty persons had died of the Trichina disease, and more than 

 eighty persons were at that period afflicted with the same malady." In the same 

 number of the " Lancet " (for January 23, 1864, at page 100) there is also a leading 

 article directing general attention to " the new disease." The comment is ably written, 

 but the editor must, in the interests of public health and truth, permit me to correct one 

 important error. It is stated (page 101, lines 22 — 24 from the top) that we get the tape- 

 worm and the hydatid from eating pork. It is true that we obtain one of the tape- 

 worms from swine's flesh ; but, as I have elsewhere shown, the destructive hydatids are 

 from a totally different source. These are procured or entertained by our swallowing 

 the ova (containing embryos) of Tcsnia echinoeoceus after they have made their escape 

 from the alimentary canal of the dog. — T. S. C. 



