TRICHINIASIS, a disease produced by the presence of trichina' within the human system, and within the bodies of other animals liable to infestation. The first well-marked case occurred at Dres den in 1860, the patient being a servant girl, who was admitted to hospital, hav ing taken ill on Jan. 12. The patient died after a short illness characterized by symptoms of lung inflammation, rheu matic pains, spasmodic contractions of the limbs, and other abnormal conditions, indicating some obscure lesion the nature of which was imperfectly understood. It was discovered at the post-mortem exam ination that in the muscles of this pa tient numerous larval trichinae were en cysted, while mature trichinm were found in the intestines. Previously to her ill ness the patient had assisted in making pork sausages, and had eaten some of the meat in a raw state, this fact accounting for the trichinose infestation. Zenker, who records the case, recognized in the symptoms those of a new lesion caused by the presence and development of trichi na?, within the tissues of man.
The preliminary symptoms are loss of appetite, prostration, and general debil ity, which continue for about a week. Pains of a rheumatic character, oedema, or dropsy and swelling of the limbs, along with fever, next occur, indicating the progress of the trichinae brood from the digestive system to the muscles. This stage of trichiniasis is unquestion ably the most dangerous. It is during the migration of the trichinae from the alimentary canal, and as they force their way through to the muscular system, that the patient experiences the most severe symptoms and stands in greatest danger. Severe pains are experienced at this period in a typical case of trich iniasis, and even breathing may be exe cuted with difficulty owing to the lesions of the muscles. Diarrhoea is also preva
lent, the symptoms on the whole bearing a resemblance to those of gastric fever. In about four weeks after the commence ment of the symptoms the disease be gins to abate. In severe cases the diar rhcea may continue, and often aids a fatal issue, arising from the prostration, together with the total derangement of the secretions. In an acute case of trichiniasis death has been known to occur as early as the fifth day of the disease, while a fatal issue has been allayed as late as the 42d day. Epidem ics of trichiniasis have chiefly occurred on the Continent, where the habit of eating smoked and uncooked sausages is widespread. At Hettstadt, in October, 1863, an epidemic of this disorder af fected 158 persons, a fatal result occur ring in 28 cases An examination of pig's flesh shows that trichina are frequently found in the muscles. No external signs in the pig afford evidence of the presence of trichi nae, and the microscopic examination of the flesh is the only true test of infesta tion. A temperature of 167° F. is suf ficient to kill trichina; larvie, and the prohibition against uncooked or imper fectly cooked animal food of all kinds, is to be rigorously insisted on in the rules of hygiene. The treatment of trichi niasis appears to consist in active pur gation in the early stages of the disease, with the view of removing the worms from the intestine, calomel being the purgative usually given.