occasion, of the German sausage, duly smoked 
and fried, 
'Useful, *Scicafific, 5er 
The trichina disease appeared in sev¬ 
eral of these individuals the next day, and eighty- 
three out of the above, uumber eventually died 
from the malady. 
Between the years 1858 and 1862 there were , 
frequent epidemics Of the trichina disease in Sax¬ 
ony, Prussia, Oic., of which many persons died. 
The disease resembled typhoid fever, but its ! 
exact nature, was not ascertained until I860, 
when Prof. Zenker of Dresden, first discovered 
the connection between trichinae and the malady 
in question. Since Hint time the subject has 
been fully investigated Proofs have been obtained 
by feeding animals with trichiuotts flesh. It has 
been found that the trli Lime will breed in differ¬ 
ent nniimds and produce a fatal disease in them 
as well as in man. In the. instance above given 
as having occurred in 1804, after all the food 
Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker 
TRICHINA SPIRALIS. 
READING TOR YOUTH, 
there is no end. This is more literally true now 
than when spoken some three thousand years 
ago. Thousands of new books are every year 
published in this country, and many more in 
England, and Franco, and other parts of Europe. 
A lifetime devoted entirely to reading, would not 
afford time for the perusal of one-tenth of the 
books already published, to say nothing of the 
vast annual increase, aud the groat amount of pe¬ 
riodical literature. As, therefore, with the time 
young men have for reading, only a very small 
portion—not one in a hundred — of the existing 
books and of the periodical matter can be read, 
it becomes necessary that the youth should be 
very select in choosing works to which they de¬ 
vote their tune and attention. If this is not the 
case, valuable tune is, at least, wasted. 
In selecting books, act as in ehoosin 
ous poisons, it was discovered that the sau¬ 
sage contained trichinae, which were also found 
in the muscles of individuals who perished 
from the effects of this fatal feast. It would be 
satisfactory to know whether trichime, and the 
disease caused by them, have always existed; 
but upon these points we must confess our en¬ 
tire ignorance. We know that a species of tape¬ 
worm is derived from “measly” pork, and that 
the hog was pronounced an “unclean” animal 
by the Jewish law-giver; but it is not certain 
that the maladies in question were the grounds 
for the prohibition of this article of food. 
The trichina is normally present lu the mt, and 
is occasionally found In other animals, but Its 
evil effects in the human family are due entirely 
to the use of pork. We will therefore coufluc 
our description to its life-liistory in the hog and 
in man. How it originates in swine Is a matter 
of conjecture only. It Is found in immense num¬ 
bers in the animal which happens to he infested 
with it; and, except in recent eases, only in the 
lean or muscular parts. A pound of meat may 
contain 600,000 worms, and the hog affected to 
this extent may appear iu good condition and 
find a ready Rale. We have remarked on the 
strange vitality of the trichina. It will remain 
alive after meat lias become putrid or frozen. 
When taken into the humau stomach, tiie ryst, 
dissolves and liberates the worm. In two days 
it increases to two or three times its former 
size; and in about, a week the female trichina 
brings forth its living young, each mother pro¬ 
ducing from 106 to 200, and perhaps repeating 
the operation several times before it dies or Is 
expelled from tlic body. Tho minute young 
worms pcuctrate tho intestinefi, and in a very 
short time And their way to the muscles, where 
they rest, and after a short, period eease to grow. 
They then become invested with the cyst already 
described. All the voluntary muscles of the 
body become thus tilled with them;—at an early 
period they are also found in the Intestinal 
mucus, In the mesenteric glands, but rarely if 
ever in the heart, or other Important organs. 
It, Is estimated that 80,000,000 may thus exist in 
an adult subject—a computation which will not 
appear extravagant to one who has seen fresh 
muscle filled with them. 
The parent worms do not penetrate the mus¬ 
cles. It is supposed that these, and some of the 
young, are expelled from the body of tho animal, 
and are received into other animals, and that 
thus the race is perpetuated, while the greater 
number, lying dormant in the muscles for an 
indefinite period, await their chances of develop¬ 
ment iu the manner already described. 
The symptoms produced in man by trichina- 
relate first to the stomach and bowels. They 
make their appearance in from twenty-four hours 
to several days utter tho infested food has been 
eaten. Painful irritation of tho stomach and 
intestines, diarrhea and fever occur at this stage. 
A bloating (oedema) of the lace is one of tho early 
symptoms. When the youug trichina) begin 
their migration into the system, inflammations 
of Internal organs supervene—the bloating at¬ 
tacks tho lower, then the upper, extremities and 
the muscles become affected with disagreeable 
sensations or painful rheumatism and contrac¬ 
tion. They may also give rise to inflammation of 
the lungs, hoarseness, fever of ft typhoid type, pro¬ 
fuse sweatings and eruptions on the skin. These 
symptoms last several weeks, and terudnatc in 
a slow recovery, or prove fatal. A majority 
or persons thus affected recover—hut the suffer¬ 
ing is generally In proportion to the amount of 
trichinous food eaten by the individual. As to 
remedies, we may add that nothing is known 
capable of destroying trichinae which it would 
he safe to administer to a patient. Thorough 
evacuation of the stomach and bowels as early 
as possible is all that can be done, with appro¬ 
priate care aud treatment of symptoms to keep 
the sufferer alive until the animals, having 
reached the muscles, cease from their migra¬ 
tions. When this point is attained, a person 
harboring millions of them may live for years 
unconscious of their presence. 
The liability to be affected by trichina) is cer¬ 
tainly not greut. The trhLinous disease is rare 
in tills country, yet cases have occurred at the 
East and the West; and in our ignorance of its 
limitations, we may underrate as well as over¬ 
estimate the danger. No breed of swine is 
exempt from trichina. It Is supposed, but not 
proved, that filth and overcrowding predispose 
to trichiuous infestation—hut wc have yet much 
to learn ill respect to the cause of trichina in 
swine, and its propagation among them. 
In view of the foregoing liiets it would seem 
superfluous to urge the careful examination of 
pork by the purchaser and consumer. The ex¬ 
istence of disease in the hog should be carefully 
noted, and its cause ascertained If possible. 
friends. 
There are those with whom wc cannot associate, 
aud books wo cannot read, without receiving 
positive injury. Then there arc light, triflingund 
foolish people and books, whose company tends 
to dissipate the mind, and give it a distaste for 
everything manly ami noble. Select only a low 
hooks for perusal, and those calculated to im¬ 
prove the mind and heart. The manner of read¬ 
ing, too, is Important. Books should ho road not 
merely for amusement, but for a purpose. Cole¬ 
ridge divides readers into four classes. “The 
first,” ho says, “may he compared to an hour- 
glas, their reading being ns the Baud; it ruus in, 
and runs out, and leaves not a vestige behind. 
A second class resembles a sponge, which im¬ 
bibes every tiling, and returns it in nearly the 
same state, only a little dirtier. A third class is 
like a jolly-bag, which allows all that is pure to 
pass away, and retains only the refuse and the 
dregs. The fourth class may be compared to the 
slave in the diamond mines of Golconda, who, 
casting aside all that Is worthless, preserves only 
the pure gem.” 
Another author says it is necessary to have a 
Uxcd, noble purpose behind a disposition to read, 
as behind physical strength in secular pursuits, 
otherwise what is read will bo of comparatively 
little service. These few hints on reading are 
designed as merely suggestive of thought, and 
perhaps discussion among our young readers. 
WINTER DRESS IN THE COUNTRY. 
Everything relating to Japan possesses an 
interest, from the fact that, until very recently 
that country allowed no Intercourse with other 
regions of the world. Now that the barriers 
have been broken down, we find in the character 
and habits of the Japanese much that is novel 
and striking and worthy of attention. In their 
state of semi-civilization they have made credit¬ 
able advances In certain arts, aud, like the Clii- 
WINTER DRESS IN TOWN. 
nose, are wonderfully Ingenious and imitative. 
Tho distinctions of rank arc sedulously main¬ 
tained, and the contrast between the higher 
aud lower orders of society marked by unmis¬ 
takable linos. 
Our engravings illustrate the winter stylo of 
dress In town and country, which indicates the 
superiority in polish and refinement of the citizen 
over tho rustic. 
Fig. 1, Fig. 2. 
Our knowledge of the Trichina (pronounced 
Tre-ki-na, or Tre-kd-na,) dates from 1835. 
It was first described by Professor Owen of 
England, from specimens of muscle, sent to him 
by a London anatomist. The muscle contained 
small, whitish specks, visible to the naked eye. 
These had been seen before, hut Prof. Owen dis¬ 
covered that^thesc minute cysts contained a 
microscopic worm, coiled up in such a manner 
as to suggest the name given to it — the spiral, 
hair-like worm. The cysts are oval in shape —> 
one-tldrty-slxth of an Inch long, and the worm 
they contain is about onc-twenty-llfth Of an inch 
in length. Fig. 1 represents Die appearance of 
a piece of muscle dotted with these cysts, which 
have become Invested with calcareous matter. 
Fig. 2 shows one of these cysts highly magnified, 
the worm being drawn as it was seen coiled, 
under the microscope. Two worms are some¬ 
times found In a cyst. In looking for the worms 
in recent cases, it must he remembered that they 
are at first merely coiled up in tho muscle, and 
do not exhibit the perfect cyst until several 
weeks have elapsed. Fig. 3 represents the tri¬ 
china from the muscle, highly magnified. The 
worm in this state is immature, hut endowed 
with extraordinary vitality, as It will remain 
unchanged, supported probably by contact with 
the living tissues which surround it, for ten or 
more years. The pointed extremity is the 
head of the worm; the mouth Is round and 
small; tho intestinal canal is twisted on itself 
for a part of Its length and terminates at the 
fissure - like opening at the larger extremity. 
The female is much larger than the male, as is 
usual iu this class of worms. 
whether this disease In the hog is caused in all 
cases by trichin®. 
it is some satisfaction to know, if we must eat 
trichina), that they are harmless when thoroughly 
cooked. Their vitality is destroyed by a heat of 
212 , or the boiling point of water. They arc 
also killed by long salting and thorough smoking 
—hut. tho ordinary salting and smoking of bain 
docs not always destroy them, so that this article 
when eaten raw lias often proved fatal in its 
effects, it is difllcult to ascertain their presence 
in sausage. This article, therefore* Bhouldftlways 
he thoroughly cooked. A temperature below 
156 does not necessarily prove fatal to trichina;. 
It has been ascertained that a large piece of meat 
boiled for half an hour Iocs not become heated 
in tho center above 140". In roasting pork, If 
the Interior remains bloody, the heat haB only 
reached about 150 . 
In conclusion we may remark that the trichinae 
disease has as yet prevailed epidemically only in 
Germany. The use of raw or imperfectly cooked 
sausage anil ham In that country is proverbial. 
Perhaps the same practice in this country would 
he attended with like remits. In one family in 
Unn Co., Iowa, five persons out of uitie who had 
eaten raw ham died from this cause. In another 
family six peraons who used raw ham were made 
very sick, hut recovered. It is not unlikely 
then that trichloops disease would become an 
American “ institution,” wherever pork eating 
prevails, if the necessary precautions in regard 
to cooking were neglected, w. w. e. 
A HEAVENLY WONDER. 
Astronomical phenomena appear to be the 
order of the day. Since tho failure of the mete¬ 
oric shower, another subject has been started 
which Is creating much Interest and discussion 
among the savans. Somewhere between the 6th 
and 15th of December, I860, an astronomical phe¬ 
nomenon Occurcd, the like of wljleh will not be 
again visible for four thousand years. This heav¬ 
enly wonder is the conjuntlon of tho sun, moon, 
Mercury, Venus, and the earth. At Lhe time of tho 
occulatlon, all live could bo intersected by the 
same straight line—t.lt, tat, too; five in a row. 
A well known astronomer, alluding to Die event, 
says:—“1 have turned the planetarium back two 
thousand years, and during that space of time no 
event of a like character has occurred; I have 
turned it forward two thousand years in the fu¬ 
ture, aud in that long period the occulatlon will 
not he repeated. What effect will be produed on 
our globe by the intervention of so many bodies 
between it und the bud I am unable to say. Tho 
attractive power of the solar influences may bo 
weakened, but to what extent no calculations 
based on precedent und philosophy can afford 
any Idea. The completeness of the oocultation, 
owing to the rapid movements of the planets, 
will he of short duration, and the occasion may 
pass without any physical indication that such a 
maze in the dance of stars had taken place. 
LITTLE WRENS, 
The British Workman gives the following cu¬ 
rious incident that occurred uoar the house, of a 
friend: 
A number of birds, of different species, have 
neats around his house; and a few days since his 
family heard a great outcry and commotion 
amongst them, and found that their cat had 
caught a female wren, one of a pair who were 
roaring tlioir offspring iu a neighboring tree; and 
It appeared that the whole feathered population 
had gathered together to express their indigna¬ 
tion at the outrage, and condolence with the. 
survivor. 
Presently they all (lew away, the male wren 
witli Diem; who, however, shortly returned, 
bringing with him anew mate, who immediately 
took charge of his infant brood, and has, in her 
devotion to them, been a pattern for step-moth¬ 
ers. The query to me is, how, with tho limited 
intelligence, and power of communicating Ideas, 
which we ure willing to accord to them, he made 
known to her h'ls loss, and induced her to remedy 
the misfortune so effectually. 
The instinct that the great Creator gives to 
these creatures of his hand is truly wonderful; 
and yet bow very far below the intelligence with 
which he has endowed man is this instinct! 
A recent writer expresses his belief that meat 
should he taken at the morning meal, and thus 
gives his reasons: 
It may not ho digested so quickly as some 
starchy substances; but, as a rule, it is digested 
easily, and it certainly satisfies the system, and 
carries us larthcr in our work than vegetables 
alone. At this time meat should be takcu in a 
palatable and easily digestible form—stewed, with 
the nutrltleut juices saved in tho sauces, and the 
aromatic principles developed by the heat; or, 
better than all, broiled, for hero tho juices are 
retained in the tissue, aud the flavor is developed 
by tho hardening and carmellzation, as it were, 
of the exterior. Above all, avoid the abomina¬ 
tion of frying fresh meat; not alone as a matter 
of taste, but as a violation of scientific laws. A 
fresh animal tissue which has soaked up a mass 
of fat is not in a proper condition to ho taken 
Into the system. Salted articles, which arc gen¬ 
erally so hardened that they will not so readily 
absorb Lhe fat, as fish, and articles which arc 
exposed for hut a short time to the very high 
temperature to which all tried articles are sub¬ 
jected, may be cooked in this way, but never 
good fresh meat. 
LINES IN A. LITTLE LADY’S ALBUM. 
IIearts good and true 
Have wishes few, 
In narrow circles bounded; 
Aud hope that lives 
On what God gives, 
Is Christian hope well founded. 
Small things are beat: 
Grief and unrest 
To runk and wealth are given ; 
Bat little things 
On little wings, 
Bear little souls to heaven. 
THE WONDERS OF SEED 
Is there upon earth a machine, is there a pal¬ 
ace, is there even a city, which contains so much 
that is wonderful as is eucloscd in a single little 
seed—one grain of corn, one Little brown apple 
seed, one small seed of a tree, picked up, per¬ 
haps, by a sparrow for her little ones, the smallest 
of a poppy or a bluebell, or even one of theseeds 
that are so small that they float about in the air 
imbibe to our eyes? Ahi there is a world of 
marvel and brilliant beauties hidden in each of 
these tiny seeds. 
About a huudred and fifty years ago, the cele¬ 
brated Linnaeus, who has been called “ the father 
of botany,” reckoned about 8,000 different kinds 
of plants; and he then thought that the whole 
number existing could not much exceed 10,000. 
But, a hundred years alter him, M. de Candolle 
of Geneva, described about 40,000 kinds of plants, 
aud he supposed it possible that the uumber 
might even amount to 100,000. 
Well, have these 100,000 kinds ot plants ever 
failed to bear the right kind of seed? Have they 
ever deceived us? Has a seed of wheat ever 
yielded barley, or Dio seed of a poppy grown up 
into a sunflower? Has a sycamore tree ever 
sprang from au aeon), or a beech tree from a 
chestnut? A little bird may carry away the 
small seed of the sycamore In its beak, to feed 
its nestlings, and on the way may drop it on the 
ground. The tiny seed may spring up and grow 
where it fell unnoticed, and sixty years after, it 
may become a maguificent tree, uuder which the 
flocks of the valleys and their shepherds may 
rest in the shade. 
Selfishness Rebuked. — A poor old man 
busily planting an apple tree was rudely asked, 
“ What do yon plant trees foe? you cau’t expect 
to eat the fruit of them.” He raised himself up, 
and, leaning upon his spade, answered, “Some 
one planted trees before I was horn, and I have 
eaten the fruit. I now plant, for others, to show 
ray gratitude when I am dead.” Thus should 
we think and act for the welfare oi others. 
Lost Time. — Lost wealth may be restored by 
industry; the wreck of health regained by tem¬ 
perance ; forgotten knowledge restored by study; 
alienated friendship smoothed into forgetfulness; 
even forfeited reputation won by penitence and 
virtue; but who ever again looked upon his van¬ 
ished hours—recalled his slighted years, stamped 
them with wisdom, or effaced from heaven's rec¬ 
ord the fearful blot of wasted time? 
Pantoscopic Camera.— Several of tho new 
instruments colled the Pantoscopic Camera have 
been brought to this country. There Is in the 
mechanism a clock-work arrangement by which 
the camera moves slowly round the arc of u circle, 
pointing successively to each section of the hori¬ 
zon, the plate which receives the picture being 
“ fed ” at a corresponding rate on a sliding rail 
so that a panorama of n city, large estate, or of 
the whole horizon, may he taken at once, Dins 
obviating the lack of continuity both in form and 
shape, which is a defect of pictures taken in 
sections and pasted together, as is the present 
practice. 
Conundrums. — Why arc railway stations like 
groans ? Because they are (deep oh'*) depots. 
Why is a “non-resident” like a Tartar? Be¬ 
cause he leads a no-mad -le life. 
It you asked one of tho antipodes whether he 
lived uuder the zenith, what would he say ? Nay, 
dear (Nadir.) 
Why is an astronomer like a press-gang ? Be¬ 
cause he will Bee stars (seize tare.) — Our Young 
Folks. 
Punctuality.— A punctual man is rarely a 
poor mail, and never a man of doubtful credit. 
His small accounts are frequently settled, and he 
never meet.-, with difficulty In raising money to 
pay large demands. Small debts neglected ruin 
credit; and when a man has lost that, he will find 
himself at the bottom of a hill lie cannot ascend. 
Birds of a Feather.—A n omUAofcjjlfrtff match 
recently made in a parish near Edinburgh has 
set the whole neighborhood In a flutter. Miss 
//enrletta Ihu'oclc espoused Mr. Robin. Sparrow, 
the bridesman being Mr. Philip Hawk , and the 
bridesmaid Miss Larkins. The marriage fees were 
taken by J. Crow! 
The virtue ol prosperity is temperance; the 
virtue of adversity is fortitude. 
