SLAUGHTER HOUSE INSPECTION. 
547 
The cystic form of the echinococcus veterinorum is very 
common in swine and the hydatids are found almost exclusively 
in the liver. While the authors have reported the finding of 
this cystic parasite in all parts of the body of both man and 
animals, medical and veterinary records do not show such a 
widespread diffusion in this section of country. The cysts vary 
in size from ^ to 2 or 3 inches in diameter and consist of a 
translucent double wall enclosing its full capacity of transparent 
liquid. The inner wall (mother membrane) is easily separated 
from the outer wall, and if divided it persistently rolls upon it¬ 
self when effort is made to spread it flat upon a surface. The 
inner surface of this wall or membrane usually bears many 
minute whitish bodies, only observable upon close examination. 
These bodies are made up of from 10 to 20 tapeworm heads, 
which are plainly visible upon 50 to 100 diameter magnifica¬ 
tion. The cyst and contents are modified by degenerate pro¬ 
cesses and may be converted into abscesses. They are found 
on the surface or embedded in the substance of the liver and 
vary in number from one to many. Infested organs should be 
rendered unusable as food for man and beast. 
The report of the Department of Agriculture states that 
three and one-twentieth per cent, of all hogs examined micro¬ 
scopically by the department during the fiscal year ending June 
30, 1893, were infested with trichinae. As the number exam¬ 
ined exceeded one and one-half millions, it is evident that this 
parasite is wide-spread and very prevalent. Trichinae produce 
no gross lesions in the infested animal, and are detected only by 
'^id of the microscope. They are found almost exclusively in the 
muscular structures, and are most numerous in the tono-ue, dia- 
phragm and psoae muscles, but are confined to no section of the 
carcass. They are readily detected when magnified thirty to 
sixty diameters, and specimens of muscle, either fresh or cured, 
are easily prepared for examination, either by mincing or cutting 
it into small pieces and spreading between glass slips thin 
enough to permit light to pass through. The trichinae are usu¬ 
ally found coiled like spiral springs and are enclosed in sacs of 
