Trichiniasis

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

Important: Safety Warning This page presents medical treatment from an era before modern medicine. The remedies described are ineffective against the conditions named, and some of the ingredients or doses are harmful. Do not use them to treat any illness; consult a qualified medical professional. This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon. a disease produced by the presence of trichine within the human system, and within the bodies of other animals liable to infestation. The first well-marked case occurred at Dresden in 1860, the patient being a servant girl, who was admitted to hospital, having taken ill on Jan. 12. The patient died after a short illness characterized by symptoms of lung inflammation, rheu- prohibition against uncooked or impermatic 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 examination that in the muscles of this patient numerous larval trichinæ were encysted, while mature trichinæ were found in the intestines. Previously to her illness 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 trichinæ, within the tissues of man. The preliminary symptoms are loss of appetite, prostration, and general debility, which continue for about a week. Pains of a rheumatic character, edema, or dropsy and swelling of the limbs, along with fever, next occur, indicating the progress of the trichinæ brood from the digestive system to the muscles. This stage of trichiniasis is unquestionably the most dangerous. It is during the migration of the trichinæ 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 trichiniasis, and even breathing may be executed with difficulty owing to the lesions of the muscles. Diarrhea is also prevalent, the symptoms on the whole bearing a resemblance to those of gastric fever. In about four weeks after the commencement of the symptoms the disease begins to abate. In severe cases the diarrhœa 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 system disease, while disease, while a fatal issue has been allayed as late as the 42d day. Epidemics of trichiniasis have chiefly occurred they are encysted. The pig is the great on the Continent, where the habit of eating smoked and uncooked sausages is widespread. At Hettstädt, in October, 1863, an epidemic of this disorder affected 158 persons, a fatal result occurring in 28 cases An examination of pig's flesh shows that trichinæ are frequently found in the muscles. No external signs in the pig afford evidence of the presenec of trichinæ, and the microscopic examination of the flesh is the only true test of infestation. A temperature of 167° F. is sufficient to kill trichin kill trichinæ larvæ, and the fectly cooked animal food of all kinds, is to be rigorously insisted on in the rules of hygiene. The treatment of trichiniasis appears to consist in active purgation in the early stages of the disease, with the view of removing the worms from the intestine, calomel being the purgative usually given.