Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/575

LEFT TRICHINA 505 TRICHINOPOLI in small oval cysts, scarcely visible to the naked eye, measuring 1/78 inch in length and 1/136 inch in breadth. Some- times the worms are not encysted, and measure 1/26 inch in length and 1/360 inch in breadth. The mature and repro- ductive trichinse inhabit the intestinal canal of mammals, including man, and live for four or five weeks, attaining ability to reproduce on the second day of their introduction. The male is about 1/18 and the female 1/8 inch long. The eggs are hatched within the female, and as soon as the embryos are expelled they bore their way into the muscles, and there in about 14 days assume the form known as T. spiralis, often setting up trichiniasis. Thus the only way in which trichinae can get into the human system is by being swallowed alive with pieces^ of imperfectly-cooked muscle in which they are encysted. The pig is the great source of infection to man, as it is pecu- liarly liable to the presence of encysted^ trichinse. TRICHINIASIS, a disease produced by the presence of trichinae 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 trichinae 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- nae, 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- rhoea 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 trichinae 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 trichinae larvae, 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. TRICHINOPOLI, the chief town of the district of the same name, Madras presi- dency, British India; on the Cauvery river; 320 miles S. S. W. of Madras. It is celebrated for its fort, which was built (circa 1570) by a native prince of Madura, and formed the object of all thQ wars between the English and the French in Southern India between 1749 and 1763, when Clive first rose to fame. The fort occupies a granite cliff rising 500 feet above the plain, crowned with a small pagoda, with a cave temple hewn out of its S. face. The walls have been leveled and the moat filled up, and the whole is now being laid out as a boulevard. Trichi- nopoli is the headquarters of the briga- dier commanding the Southern Division of the Madras army. There are bar- racks for European troops and artillery. In the church is the tomb of Bishop