A REPORT ON 
TRICHINOSIS, 
AS OBSERVED IN 
DEARBORN CO.. IND., IN 1874. 
GEORGE SUTTON, M. D., AURORA. IND. 
Reprintedfrom the Transactions of the Indiana State Medical Society, 1875 
Baker, Schmidlap & Co. Pra.. 38 & 35 B. 111. St.. IndlanapoliH. A REPORT ON TRICHINOSIS, 
-A.S OBSERVED X3ST 
DEARBORN CO., IND., IN 1874. 
GEORGE SUTTON, M. D., AURORA, IND. 
Reprinted from the Transactions of the Indiana State Medical Society, 1875. 
The recent discovery that a minute parasite communi- 
cated to the human system, through one of our principle 
articles of food, is capable of producing the loathesome, 
obstinate and fatal disease now known as trichinosis; the 
minuteness of this parasite; their rapid development in num- 
bers and rapid diffusion throughout the muscular system of a 
living body; the obstinancy of the disease which they produce, 
resisting at the present time all remedies suggested for its cure; 
the probability that the disease arising from this parasite is of 
great antiquity, causing the ancient Jew to prohibit the use of 
pork, without knowing that a parasite within this meat was the 
cause of disease; the probability also that this parasite is pro- 
ducing disease at the present time in our own country, even in 
our own state, to a much greater extent than is recognized by 
physicians, and the comparatively little attention that has been 
given in this country to trichinosis and trichina, are sufficient 
reasons, we think, to make the subject one of more than usual 
interest to the physician and well worthy of careful investiga- 
tion. 2 
Report on Trichinosis. 
The object of this report is more to present facts relating to 
trichinosis and trichina as they came under my own observa- 
tion, than to reiterate what is known and described in our med- 
ical books and periodicals on this subject. Although the 
report is uecessarily imperfect, arising from the fact that the 
true character of the disease was not suspected for nearly two 
weeks after it had been treated; still we believe the facts pre- 
sented are of value, and even the fact that the disease was not 
at first known, is important, as showing the possibility that 
trichinosis under its various forms may be treated for other dis- 
eases. Trichinosis has been so recently recognized, its dis- 
covery dating back only to 1860, that much obscurity still 
attends it and every additional fact connected with the disease, 
particularly if observed within our own state, even if not fully 
reported, is worthy of being brought before our society. 
From microscopical examinations of pork brought to my 
office, by our farmers for examination during the last year, we have 
become satisfied that a large portion of the hogs of our country 
are affected with this parasite. I think it highly probable 
that when the fact becomes more generally known, that so large 
a per cent, of the pork is affected with trichina and capable 
of producing so loathesome a disease as trichinosis, that it will 
have an influence upon the sale of one of the principal produc- 
tions of the West, affecting the agriculturalist and even, to some 
extent, the commerce of our country. 
We had read of trichinosis prevailing in Germany, and even 
in different portions of the United States, but had regarded the 
disease as foreign to our section of country and one of rare 
occurrence. 
We had not realized the fact that the seeds of this malady 
were around us, diffused through an article of our daily food, 
and liable at any time, under favorable circumstances, to develop 
this disgusting disease. But that such was the case we were 
made fully aware during the month of January, 1874. 
A widow by the name of Trenant, residing in Aurora, Ind- 
iana, and one of her children were suddenly taken unwell with 
diarrhoea and vomiting. Her other two children were also taken 
unwell the next day with similar symptoms. Report on Trichinosis. 
3 
The sickness assuming a serious character, and the whole 
family, consisting of the mother and her three children, being 
confined to bed, excited the sympathy of our citizens. She was 
a member of the German Methodist Church, and members of 
her church went to her assistance, attended to her family, nursed 
them during the day and night. Cases of sickness immediately 
followed amongst those who had been in attendance on the fam- 
ily, all having a similarity of symptoms ; still the disease was not 
regarded as contagious or arising from local malaria, as there 
was another family living in the same house enjoying good 
health, and all the surrounding neighbors were healthy. The 
disease was treated at first by the attending physician, Dr. 
Lamb, of Aurora, as typhoid fever. 
About ten or twelve days after Mrs. Trenant and her family 
had been ill one of her neighbors, and member of the same 
church, an intelligent German, Mr. Adam Whehe, noticed that 
this sickness arose only amongst those who were having their 
meals at Mrs. Trenant’s house, and knowing that she had been 
using the fresh meat of two hogs which she had had butchered 
only a few days before the commencement of her illness, was the 
first to suggest that the pork these patients had been eating was 
the cause of this sickness. He had been informed by the man 
who assisted the butcher in killing the hogs that the lungs of one 
of them presented some appearance of disease, and directed the 
attention of the attending physician to what he supposed was the 
cause of this sickness. Dr. Lamb, after hearing these facts, was 
inclined to regard the disease as arising from septiccemia, but 
thought it possible that trichina might be the cause of the sick- 
ness. During this uncertainty, the Doctor invited me to see 
these patients with him. This was January 23d, fourteen days 
after the Trenant family had been taken sick. After hearing 
the facts relating to these cases, and the fact that one of the hogs 
had been sick a few months before it was killed, it appeared to 
me highly probable that these were cases of trichinosis. To 
assist us, however, in our diagnosis, I suggested that we make 
a microscopical examination of the pork which these patients 
had been eating. Having a good microscope, I had some the 
meat sent to my office for examination. My son, Dr. W. E. 4 
Report on Trichinosis. 
Sutton, being in the office at the time it was brought in, soon 
detected the trichina. I also, on my return, detected them in 
great numbers, and we found that portions of the meat con- 
tained over eighty thousand to the cubic inch. Mrs. Trenant 
was now informed of the poisonous character of the pork, and 
its use was at once discontinued. It had been daily placed 
upon the table for those in attendance on the family up to this 
time. 
The hogs were killed on the morning of the fifth of January. 
The meat was cut up and salted, and sausage made the same 
day. I was particular to ascertain in what manner this meat 
had been used, and obtained the following facts : The pork, 
which had all the appearance of being perfectly healthy, having 
a thick layer of fat over the hams, was cut up, salted and 
placed in a barrel in the usual manner. None of this salted 
meat had been used. The spare-ribs, backbones, trimmings 
and the sausage were the only meat used up to the time of the 
sickness. Two kinds of sausage were made—one the common 
meat sausage, the other what the Germans call liver worst. 
The meat sausage was made in the usual way—lean portions of 
the back, tenderloin, trimmings from the hams, etc.,were chopped 
up fine, highly seasoned with salt, pepper, sage and other herbs, 
and forced, uncooked, into the prepared intestines of the hog. 
The liverwurst was made from the liver, lungs and fragments 
of meat—this was boiled or cooked, then chopped up fine and 
highly seasoned with onions, sage, pepper, salt, etc., and also 
inclosed in skins. These sausages were immediately hung up in 
the smoke-house, and kept over a dense smoke for several days. 
From the day the hogs were killed the meat had been used, 
fried and cooked in the usual manner. On the evening of the 
ninth, four days after the hogs were butchered, portions of this 
smoked meat-sausage, which, by this time, was well smoked, 
were placed upon the table uncooked, and eaten, a mode of 
using this form of sausage common to the Germans. Whether 
it was eaten by all the children is not now known, as no atten- 
tion at that time was directed to the subject. That night, about 
six or eight hours after the sausage had been eaten, Mrs. Tre- Report on Trichinosis. 
5 
nant and her son Henry were taken unwell; other cases of sick- 
ness followed, all traced afterwards to eating this meat. 
The discovery of the parasite created an excitement in the 
city and neighborhood. People crowded to my office to see the 
trichina, and meat was daily brought in for examination. We 
soon found that a considerable portion of the pork of this 
locality was infected with the parasite. 
The patients had been ill over fourteen days, the disease was 
new and seemed to baffle all treatment. Some of the patients 
appeared to be daily growing worse. At this time, January 25, 
it was the request of the elders of the church that I should 
take charge of some of these patients. This was also agreeable 
to the wish of Dr. Lamb, but, instead of taking charge of 
patients separately, we agreed to attend the cases together, 
which, by so doing, would enable me to see all the patients from 
day to day, and take notes of their symptoms and the treatment 
adopted. The disease not being regarded at first as anything 
unusual, no notes were taken of the early symptoms, and I can 
only give a general outline of the symptoms at first presented, 
with the treatment. 
After I saw the patients I kept a daily record of each case 
which, to give in full, would make this report so voluminous 
that I could not bring it before the Society. I will, therefore, 
merely give a summary of the symptoms and treatment of each 
patient. 
Mrs. Trenant, age forty-one, had been daily eating the 
cooked pork from the time the hogs were killed, January 5th 
up to the 9th. That evening, January 9th, the two kinds of 
sausage uncooked were placed upon the supper table ; Mrs. T. 
ate a portion of the uncooked meat sausage to try its flavor. 
About five or six hours afterwards she was attacked with vom- 
iting and purging. The next morning, January 10th, Dr. Lamb 
was called in. The doctor informs me that she then had 
diarrhoea, discharges thin and yellow, occasional vomiting, low 
fever, coated tongue; these symptoms continued up to the 24th, 
and were treated upon general principles with “ tonics, altera- 
tives, diuretics and sedatives.” 6 
Report on Trichinosis. 
At this time I saw the patient. As we had detected trichina 
in the meat they had been using, and regarding this sickness as 
arising from trichina, the symptoms were now more closely 
observed. There was diarrhoea alternating with dysenteric symp- 
toms, discharges mostly thin and yellow, occasional vomiting, 
coated tongue, red around the edges, temperature ninety- 
eight and one-half, varying to one hundred, pulse ranging from 
eighty-five to ninety-five, small, thirst, no appetite, tenderness 
over the bowels, but little if any pain, except slight soreness of 
the muscles of the extremeties, urine healthy, although rather 
high colored, skin occasionally moist, at other times dry with 
increased temperature, mind clear, but there was much anxiety, 
which partly arose from the illness of her family. She com- 
plained of great weakness. As we could find no satisfactory 
treatment recommended in our medical works for trichinosis, 
we concluded to try different remedies upon the different 
patients. In this case we continued the quinine and also gave 
anodynes as the diarrhoeal symptoms required. We also gave a 
solution containing the sixteenth of a grain of corrosive sub- 
limate every four hours, thinking that it might possibly distroy 
the parasite. This course of treatment we continued until Feb- 
ruary 1st, six days, when we discontinued the corrosive subli- 
mate, as there was no marked improvement in the case, and 
continued the quinine stimulants and also gave anodynes, as the 
diarrhoeal symptoms required. 
The appetite slowly returned, the diarrhoea and dysen- 
tery gradually subsided, and seven weeks from the time 
she was taken unwell, this patient was decided convalescent, and 
has since entirely recovered. There was in this case but little 
oedema and only slight soreness of the muscles. The prominent 
symptoms were those of gastro-enteritis. 
Henry Trenant, aged fourteen years, sou of Mrs. Trenant, 
also ate of the uncooked smoked meat—sausage—on the even- 
ing of January 9th. He was taken unwell about the same time 
his mother was, with symptoms almost precisely similar to 
those which she had, viz : vomiting and diarrhoea. The physi- 
cian prescribed for both cases the next morning, January 10th. 
When I saw this patient fourteen days after, January 23d, he Report on Trichinosis. 
7 
was pale, countenance sunken, very much emaciated, still had 
diarrhoea, discharges serous and yellow, operations about every 
three hours, unless restrained by astringents, occasional nausea 
and vomiting, no appetite, thirst, tongue red, although not 
remarkably dry, pulse feeble, one hundred and twenty in a 
minute—it varied during the day from ten to twenty beats— 
temperature ranging between ninety-eight and one hundred 
degrees, mind clear, with remarkable apathy, complains of 
a feeling of exhaustion—his expression was, “ I feel so tired ”— 
tenderness of the abdomen, slight tenderness of the flesh, but 
no oedema or eruption. These symptoms varied slightly from 
day to day; sometimes the temperature rose above, sometimes 
fell below the natural standard. 
The doctor was giving him tincture of iron and quinine, and 
gave anodynes as symptoms required, and as this patient was 
so prostrated, we continued this treatment, with the addi- 
tion of stimulants, at the same time ordered light nutriment; 
but he gradually continued to sink without any marked change 
in the symptoms, except increasing prostration. The mind 
continued clear to the last, and he died on February 6th, after a 
sickness of four weeks. 
Minnie Trenant, daughter of Mrs. Trenant, age seven 
years, was taken unwell on January 13th. She had eaten of 
the meat sausage uncooked the day before, but whether she had 
eaten of it before that time she was unable to say. She was 
attacked with vomiting and purging, and with Henry and her 
mother was treated for typhoid fever up to January 24th. At 
this time the symptoms very closely resembled those of Henry. 
There was diarrhoea, the discharges every three or four hours, 
thin and of a yellow color; also occasional vomiting, loss of 
appetite, redness of the tongue, fever, pulse varying between 
eighty and one hundred, temperature, however, but little 
elevated, ranging between ninety-eight and one hundred degrees; 
mind clear, but an unusual apathy; complains, like Henry, of 
“feeling tired;” countenance pale, urine natural in quantity 
but rather highly colored; there was tenderness over the abdo- 
men, and occasionally difficult breathing. We put this patient 
upon small doses of Fowler’s solution, two drops every three 8 
Report on Trichinosis. 
hours during the day. This was given in connection with 
quinine, anodynes and stimulants, as symptoms required, 
counter irritants to the abdomen ; also, we ordered light nutri- 
ment, such as milk, soups, etc. We continued the Fowler’s solu- 
tion until February 15th ; seeing no benefit from it, this remedy 
was discontinued. At this time she vomited a lumbricoid. 
We then put her upon three grains of santonine every three 
hours during the day. She passed another lumbricoid from the 
bowels the next day after taking the santonine. This remedy 
was continued, in connection with tonics and stimulants, up to 
February 19th, when the santonine was discontinued. She daily 
became more emaciated and gradually continued to sink. The 
stomach at last became so irritable that the only remedy admin- 
istered was a weak solution of morphia. There was no delirium 
at any time during her illness—her mind was clear to the last. 
The pulse became almost imperceptible on the evening of the 
19th, and she died about 10 a. m. February 20th, having been 
sick thirty-eight days. 
Jacob Trenant, nine years of age, had also eaten of the 
uncooked meat sausage. He was taken unwell within an hour 
of the time the last patient was taken sick, about six 
hours after eating the sausage, with similar symptoms, 
viz: vomiting and purging, and was treated in the same 
manner the other patients were up to January 25. When I saw 
him there was occasional vomiting and diarrhoea ; with dysenteric 
symptoms, tormina and tenesmus, and there was tenderness over 
the bowels, tongue red and moist; no appetite ; fever; pulse rang- 
ing from ninety to one hundred,moderately full; skin occasionally 
moist; temperature but little elevated, ranging from ninety- 
eight to one hundred; urine rather highly colored; mind clear; 
complains of the same feeling of prostration; there was more 
soreness in the muscles than in the other cases. 
We put this patient upon small doses of Fowler’s solution, 
also anodynes, quinine and stimulants. We continued the 
Fowler’s solution until the 18th of February, when it was dis- 
continued and the tonic course of treatment was continued—• 
iron, quinine, stimulants and small doses of Dover’s powder 
sufficiently large to restrain the diarrhoea and dysentery. Ilis 
diet was boiled milk, rice soup, etc. He gradually continued to Report on Trichinosis. 
9 
improve, and we regarded him as convalescent on the 1st of 
March. He had, however, occasional attacks of diarrhoea for 
some time afterwards, requiring anodynes to allay the irritation 
of the bowels. 
Louis Ramstine, aged thirteen, was employed to saw wood 
for Mrs. Trenant January 20th; during the day he had lunch, 
and ate of the uncooked smoked meat sausage, the only meat 
he ate. The next day he was attacked with diarrhoea. This 
continued for several days before a physician was employed. I 
saw him, with Dr. Lamb, on the 25th. He was put upon small 
doses of Fowler’s solution, in connection with laudanum and 
cinnamon water. This treatment was continued until Febru- 
ary 11th, when he was convalescent, and the medicine was dis- 
continued. This is the only medicine he took. 
Mrs. Beuter, thirty-four years of age, wife of the minister 
of the German Methodist Church of Aurora. This lady went 
to the assistance of Mrs. Trenant and her family, and while 
attending on the sick she ate heartily of both the meat and 
uncooked meat sausage. On the 15th, the next day after being at 
Mrs. Trenant’s house, she was attacked with vomiting and 
diarrhoea. A German physician was first called to attend this 
case, but after a few days attendance he was dismissed and Dr. 
Lamb was called in. On the 28th I saw her; she then had 
diarrhoea, also dysenteric symptoms; nausea and occasional 
vomiting; the discharges were thin and watery, changing to 
mucus when there were dysenteric symptoms; the tongue was 
coated, and red around the edges; thirst; skin hot; she was 
occasionally bathed in profuse perspiration; temperature vary- 
ing from ninety-eight to one hundred and four; pulse ranging 
from ninety-five to one hundred and sixteen at this time, gen- 
erally full; mind clear. It was now ten days from the time she 
was taken unwell, and her face, limbs and whole body were 
cedematous; the skin pitted on pressure; there was an intolerable 
itching over the face, hands and arms, with slight eruption; 
there were inflamed patches from an inch to two inches in 
diameter on the chin, side of the face and breast, resembling ery- 
sipelas; the conjunctiva was injected; there was hyperaesthesia 
of the surface of the body, and soreness of the muscles of the 10 
Report on Trichinosis. 
extremities—this painful sensation of the muscles increased to 
such an extent that she could scarcely be moved. 
The Doctor, when first called, gave this patient small 
doses of calomel and Dover’s powder, three grains each; 
after this he administered a solution of carbolic acid, five drops 
every three hours ; also, small doses of quinine and opium, as 
symptoms required, to allay the tenesmus. This treatment 
was continued four days. About this time, her husband, 
hearing that sulphur was a remedy for this disease, the carbolic 
acid treatment was discontinued, and the system saturated with 
sulphur. This treatment was continued three days, when, as it 
was evident the patient was growing worse, this treatment was 
discontinued, and the patient was put upon a solution of corro- 
sive sublimate, one-sixteenth of a grain every three hours, and 
also opium and quinine. This treatment was continued until 
February 6th, when the mercury wTas omitted, as no good effects 
were observed from it. The quinine and opium were continued. 
She continued to sink. On the morning of the 8th the pulse 
became almost imperceptible, and she died about 1 p. m.; the 
mind remaining clear to the last. 
When Mrs. Beuter went to attend Mrs. Trenant, she took 
her little son Charles, two years and a half old. This hoy, 
while at Mrs. T.’s, ate a small portion of the sausage. This 
was followed, within twenty-four hours, with diarrhoea, but no 
vomiting. He was treated at first with small doses of calomel 
and Dover’s powder; afterwards with a solution of carbolic 
acid, two drops of the acid every three hours for twenty-four 
hours ; afterwards anodynes, as symptoms required. He recov- 
ered in about twelve days. 
Rev. W. Beuter also ate of the meat sausage; this was fol- 
lowed by diarrhoea. This diarrhoea lasted about five weeks, not 
so severe, however, as. to confine him to the house. The only 
medicines he took were anodynes and mild astringents. 
An old washerwoman by the name of Ross was employed 
to wash the clothing for Mr. Trenant. AVhile at Mrs. 
Trenant’s house she ate of the uncooked meat sausage. 
This was followed, a few hours afterwards, with vomiting and 
purging. The diarrhoea continued for several days. A Miss Report on Trichinosis. 
11 
Davis went to the assistance of Mrs. Trenant; while waiting 
on her, she also ate of the uncooked meat sausage. In a few 
hours afterwards she was attacked with vomiting and purging. 
The attack was mild, and the only remedy she took was strong 
whisky punch. Mrs. Klinginhofter, Mrs. Wilkee, and other 
neighbors who were in attendance on Mrs. Trenant, ate of the 
pork as well as the sausage ; but these persons had the meat and 
sausage well cooked; no disease followed, or even any derangement 
of the stomach. These facts show that it was the uncooked meat 
sausage that produced disease, and that this meat was harmless 
if well cooked. 
Autopsy of Henry Trenant, thirty hours after death, made 
in presence of all the regular physicians of Aurora and several 
medical students. The body was remarkably emaciated; rigor 
mortis but slight; no oedema; heart and lungs presented nothing 
unusual; abdomen collapsed; stomach contracted, containing 
thick, ropy mucus; the mucous membrane was red, thickened 
and softened in several places; the lining membrane of the 
bowels presented marked evidence of disease, portions were 
intensely injected and patches softened; the ileo-crecal valve 
was congested and swollen. In examining the ileum we did 
not detect the ulcerated Peyer.’s glands peculiar to typhoid 
fever. The mucous membrane of the ileum presented the same 
evidences of inflammation as other portions of the mucous 
membrane of the alimentary canal; but hot the ulcerated 
patches which we would expect to find in a case of typhoid 
fever after four weeks illness. We examined this portion of the 
bowels with much care, as the case had presented some of the 
symptoms of typhoid fever. The mesenteric glands were gen- 
erally enlarged, swollen, red and cedematous. The liver pre- 
sented nothing remarkable; the gall bladder not unusually 
distended ; the spleen, kidneys and bladder were healthy. The 
brain and spinal cord were not examined, as there had been no 
evidence of these organs being diseased. 
Examinations with the microscope revealed a few trichina in 
the bowels near the ileo-csecal valve. After examining 
the muscles of the leg for hours, we found one in a 
piece of flesh from the thigh, and also a few in the muscles of 12 
Report on Trichinosis. 
tbe back. The trichina in this case did not penetrate the mus- 
cular system to any great extent; but produced a form of gastro- 
enteritis, causing death without advancing beyond what we 
regard the first stage of trichinosis. 
Autopsy of Minnie Trenant, thirty-six hours after death. 
Present all the physicians of Aurora. But slight rigor 
mortis, unusual emaciation, the whole abdominal surface discol- 
ored, the heart and lungs healthy, diaphragm inflamed, present- 
ing red patches and adhesions to the liver; the stomach 
congested, presenting a deep red color; the mucous membrane 
softened in several places and covered with a thick, ropy mucus ; 
the small intestines were highly injected and bound together by 
adhesions, which, however, were easily separated. On opening 
the bowel the mucous membrane presented evidence of inflam- 
mation similar to that seen in the post-mortem of Henry Tren- 
ant. It was highly injected and presented patches that were 
softened. The mesenteric glands were enlarged. The liver 
presented no remarkable appearance of disease; neither did the 
spleen, pancreas, bladder, womb, or ovaries. 
By microscopical examination we failed to detect trichina in 
the bowels; but after careful examination we found a few in 
the oblique muscles of the abdomen, and also a few in the 
muscles of the thigh. It is evident, as in the case of Henry, 
that the trichina did not spread through the muscular system in 
very great numbers. They appear to have produced irritation and 
inflammation of the intestinal canal, meseutrie glands, perito- 
neum and diaphragm. I have regretted that we did not 
examine the coats of the stomach and mesenteric glands in these 
post-mortem examinations with more care and a higher power, 
as it is more than probable that we overlooked the young para- 
site. 
When Mrs. Beuter died, I was informed that a post-mortem 
examination would not be allowed; but as this case was one in 
which the symptoms of trichinosis in all its stages had been well 
marked, I was extremely anxious to procure a piece of the flesh 
for examination ; I finally succeeded. Mr. Beuter allowed me to 
take a small piece of the muscle of the leg (gastrocnemius). In 
cutting through the skin I found the cellular tissue infiltrated Report on Trichinosis. 
13 
with serum and whole surface of the body was oedematous. On 
making a microscopic examination of the muscle, trichina were 
detected, even in greater numbers than we found them in the 
pork. Their number, when considering the shortness of time in 
which they must have been developed, were truly wonderful. 
We estimated them at more than one hundred thousand to the 
cubic inch. It appeared almost impossible to divide some por- 
tions of this flesh into pieces so small that evidences of trichina 
could not be detected in them. There were but few of the 
trichina encysted, and many of them were seen to be in motion 
—coiling and uncoiling. 
The discovery of such vast numbers of trichina m human 
flesh increased the interest in the subject. The office was visited 
daily by our citizens, most of whom had an opportunity of 
inspecting, for the first time, trichina in motion—as the speci- 
mens which had been exhibited before in the pork, presented 
the parasite in a spiral form and without motion. 
About a week after Mrs. JBeuter had been buried I was 
able to procure another piece of flesh. A report was in circula- 
tion that the grave had been opened, the body taken up 
and carried away by physicians from a distance. To ascer- 
tain whether there was truth in the report (as Mr. Beuter 
felt very distressed), I accompanied him to the cemetery. 
We had the grave opened, and tinding that the body had not 
been disturbed, he allowed me to take another piece of flesh 
from the calf of the leg. This was taken from the gastrocnemius 
of the opposite leg from which the first piece of muscle was 
taken. 
This flesh, also, when examined with the microscope, was 
found to be tilled with trichina, most of which, when a strong 
light was thrown ou them, showed evidence of motion. 
The general symptoms in this case, when viewed in connec- 
tion with the immense numbers of trichina found in the flesh, 
settled the question beyond all doubt, that this patient died from 
trichinosis, and showed also most clearly the terrible conse- 
quences which sometime arise from eating trichinous pork. 
I purchased some of the pork of Mrs. Trenant, for the pur- 
pose of testing its poisonous effects. A dog was procured, tied 14 
Report on Trichinosis. 
to a kennel and fed in moderate quantities, both on the salted 
meat and sausage. Within twenty-four hours after eating this 
meat he was evidently unwell, frequently vomiting, and also 
had diarrhoea. He lay coiled up most of the time and refused 
to eat. These symptoms lasted about forty-eight hours. On 
the third day after he had apparently recovered, we fed him 
again on this meat and sausage; vomiting and purging was 
again produced. He was fed on this meat occasionally 
for more than a week, when the food seemed to be tolerated to 
some extent, and the only effect it produced was a slight 
diarrhoea. In nine weeks from the time the dog was last fed 
with the meat he was killed, but after a most careful micro- 
scopic examination, we failed to detect trichina in his flesh. 
We examined the muscles of the legs, back, abdomen and 
tongue. I examined the flesh of another dog that was known 
to have eaten large quantities of triehinous pork. This dog 
was owned by one of our farmers. A hog had been killed for 
family use, which was found on examination to be filled with 
trichina. Several weeks after the dog had eaten this meat, he 
died from some unknown cause. A piece of his flesh was 
obtained, but after a careful examination I failed to detect 
trichina. 
These facts are in accordance with the observations of 
those physicians who tell us that trichina may be redeveloped 
within the alimentary canal of the dog and not penetrate his 
muscular system. I will merely mention as a digression that I 
made examinations of the flesh of a few other animals. It is 
stated by writers on trichinosis, that the flesh of cats, rats, mice, 
moles and hedge hogs, sometimes contain trichina. We 
examined the flesh of four cats, all of them presenting the 
appearance of being diseased before they were killed. Three 
out of four were found to be swarming with trichina, and the 
trichina from one of them were seen to be in motion. A\re 
examined the flesh of forty-two rats, all apparently healthy 
when caught—no trichina were found. Also the flesh of eight 
moles, they appeared healthy when killed—no trichina were 
found. We merely present the facts as they occurred in our 
investigations, but not as evidence, that trichina are never found 
in flesh of these animals. Report on Trichinosis. 
15 
In reviewing the facts relating to the illness of the Trenant 
family and their friends, the question arises, were all these cases 
of sickness produced from eating the trichinous pork ? 
In the case of Mrs. Beuter the evidence is clear, not even 
admitting a doubt. In the other cases we think the evidence 
is also conclusive. There was no local malarial cause on 
the premises of Mrs. Trenant to produce sickness. Another 
family living in the same house, also the neighbors living on 
adjoining lots, were enjoying good health; they had not eaten of 
this meat. It was only the attendants on Mrs. Trenant who 
had eaten of the uncooked sausage, several of whom resided in 
different parts of the city, that were unwell. They were all 
attacked within a few hours after eating this meat with similar 
symptoms—of gastro-enteritis—the prominent symptoms pre- 
sented by the dog that was fed on the meat. Then the fact 
that trichina were found on post-mortem examination, in the 
alimentary canal of one of the children, and a few in the mus- 
cles of the other, are suffiicent evidence, we think, to make the 
diagnosis clear that all of the patients were made ill from eat- 
ing trichinous pork ; and that the prominent symptoms pre- 
sented in nine out of ten of these cases were of gastro-enteritis, 
showing that a severe form of disease may be produced by 
trichina without the parasite penetrating the muscular system. 
These are important facts, as they show that trichinous pork 
may produce in the human system, a form of gastro-intestinal 
irritation, diarrhoea and dysentery, both acute and chronic, and 
may cause death without the muscular system becoming 
affected; or, in other words, that trichinosis may proceed no 
further than its tirst stage of gastro-enteritis. 
Since the discovery of this parasite at Aurora, farmers from 
the surrounding country brought specimens of their pork to 
my office for examination, and we have found a large number 
of hogs affected with trichina. During last fall and winter, Dr. 
Willis E. Sutton and myself examined the flesh from more than 
one thousand hogs, and have found from four to twelve per 
cent, affected with trichina—the number of diseased hogs vary- 
ing in different localities. In some sections of our county but 
few hogs were affected with this parasite; while in others the 16 
Report on Trichinosis. 
proportion was large. We kept a record of the number exam- 
ined until it reached five hundred; out of this five hundred, we 
found forty-eight diseased. In some of them the flesh contained 
thousands of parasites to the cubic inch. 
Hogs fed in our city were generally affected ; also, those 
brought from the valleys of Hogan and Laughery creeks ; while we 
found but few trichina in specimens of meat brought from Ken- 
tucky. Old hogs were more frequently affected than young ones, 
and old sows than barrows. 
Doctors Harding and Robbins, of Lawrenceburgh, inform 
me: “April 27th, 1875. We have microscopically exam- 
ined specimens from two hundred and forty-five different hogs 
slaughtered in the vicinity of Lawrenceburgh, and find tri- 
china present in forty of the specimens, making about sixteen 
and one third per cent, of all examined.” 
Doctors Gatch and Miller also inform me : “ Lawrenceburgh, 
April 27, 1875. In compliance with your request, we can 
state that we have examined two hundred hogs killed for pork, 
and found trichina in thirteen—about six per cent.” These 
gentlemen say: “We believe that they are to be found much 
more frequently in places where large amounts of corn are 
cribbed, and rats therefore more abundant, than in places where 
this is not the case, as most of the cases in which trichina were 
found were from such places.” 
Doctor J. V. Stevenson, of Rising Sun, also writes to me 
that he has found trichina in pork killed in Ohio county. 
From these facts there can be no doubt but that trichina 
may be found in a large proportion of the hogs that are killed 
in south-eastern Indiana. We see at once the subject is one of 
importance in showing the possible relation of tricliiuous pork 
to the etiology of disease. 
We find in the Cincinnati Commercial, that the total number 
of hogs packed in the west during the last winter was five 
million five hundred and thirty-seven thousand one hundred 
and twenty-four, and this number does not include those killed 
by butchers and farmers. Now if four per cent, (which we 
believe to be a low estimate) of these hogs were affected with tri- Report on Trichinosis. 
17 
china,we had two hundred and twenty-one thousand four hundred 
and eighty-four diseased. If six per cent., we had three hundred 
and thirty-two thousand two hundred and twenty-seven, and at 
the average of two hundred pounds to the hog, we would have 
sixty-six millions, four hundred and forty-five thousands, four 
hundred pounds of diseased meat put upon the market, and 
every ounce, under favorable circumstances, capable of produc- 
ing the loathsome disease of trichinosis. 
When the fact becomes generally known and fully 
appreciated by the public that so large a portion of the 
pork in our market is swarming with worms, and when it 
become suspected that these parasites are probably the cause 
of more disease in our country than physicians have gen- 
erally been aware of, it is highly probable that a feel- 
ing of prejudice and disgust may arise against the use of 
this article of food, which will have an important effect upon 
the market of one of the principal products of the west. The 
pork trade is one intimately associated with the prosperity of the 
western states. It is one of vast magnitude. The Cincinnati 
Commercial informs us that the aggregate gross weight of pork 
packed in the western cities this last winter was one billion 
four hundred and fifty-three millions three hundred and fifty- 
nine thousand nine hundred and ten pounds, and this does not 
include the large amount of pork packed by our farmers and 
sold as country meat. The cost of the hogs from which this 
pork was packed was ninety-seven million three hundred and 
thirty-eight thousand six hundred and twenty-six dollars, and 
the value of the pork packed by our farmers, when added, will 
increase the amount to considerably over one hundred million 
of dollars. There was packed during the last winter, in Chi- 
cago, one million six hundred thousand three hundred and forty- 
eight hogs; in Cincinnati, five hundred and sixty thousand one 
hundred and sixty-four; Louisville,two hundred and seventy-three 
thousand one hundred and eighteen; St. Louis, four hundred 
and sixty-two thousand two hundred and forty-six; Indianapo- 
lis, two hundred and seventy-eight thousand three hundred and 
thirty-nine, and large numbers in other cities of the west to 
make the five million five hundred and thirty-seven thousand 
one hundred and twenty-four. 18 
Report on Trichinosis. 
As deaths from diarrhoea, dysentery and enteritis rank high 
in the tables of mortality in our census reports, the question 
arises, to what extent are they attributable to trichina? We see 
by the census reports, that for the year 1870, there were thirty- 
one thousand one hundred and fifty-three deaths in the United 
States from diarrhoea, dysentery and enteritis. Ho cases are 
reported of trichinosis or that this parasite is even a cause of 
disease. But when we take into consideration the fact that it is 
the custom of a large portion of our German population to eat 
the smoked pork, such as ham and sausage, uncooked, and, 
when we become fully aware that a large portion of this pork 
contains trichina, and that trichina produces diarrhoea, dysen- 
tery and enteritis, it appears to me more than probable that this 
parasite is one among the causes which is producing this large 
mortality in our country, and has not yet received from the pro- 
fession the attention which it deserves. 
In the Surgeon General’s report of the sickness and mor- 
tality of the army during the rebellion, we see that there were 
“ thirty-seven thousand seven hundred and ninety-four deaths of 
white, and six thousand seven hundred and sixty-four of colored 
troops, making a total of forty-four thousand five hundred and 
fifty-eight deaths, due to the several forms of diarrhoea and 
dysentery; which must, therefore, be regarded as the most 
important causes of the mortality from diseases in our armies.” 
There were discharged from disability arising from diarrhoea 
and dysentery, seventeen thousand three hundred and eighty- 
nine men. 
When we take into consideration the imperfect manner in 
which meats are often cooked in the army; the hurried manner 
in which the meals are prepared and eaten—meat often eaten 
almost raw during the excitement of battle—the large amount 
of pork which enters into the rations of the soldiers, with the 
gastro-enteritis which trichinous pork is known to produce, 
it makes it more than probable, we think, that many of these 
cases of diarrhoea and dysentery arose from trichina. 
A question of interest connected with this subject, which 
requires further investigation, is: How do the trichina become 
so rapidly diffused throughout the muscular system? We are Report on Trichinosis. 
19 
told by Leuchart, Virchow and Zenker that muscular trichina 
are freed from their capsules in the stomach and are developed 
and produce their young in the intestines; that in seven days 
these young trichina commence their migration from the intes- 
tines to all parts of the voluntary muscular system; and that 
within the voluntary muscles they encapsulate themselves, to 
remain in a dormant state until the flesh is eaten. If this view 
is correct, the rapidity of their migration is certainly wonderful. 
Take, for instance, the case of Mrs. Beuter, which we presented. 
She was taken unwell on the loth of January; the first sickness 
was undoubtedly caused by the liberation of the trichina from 
their capsules. It would be seven days after their liberation 
before they produce their young—this would bring the time up 
to the 22d of January. On the 28th, I saw Mrs. Beuter; her 
face, body and extremities were then cedematous, and had been 
so for several days, showing that the trichina had at that time 
penetrated every portion of the voluntary muscular system. Sup- 
posing they entered the muscles that day, it would give 
them less than six days to bore their way through all the oppos- 
ing tissues and pervade the whole muscular system. The 
mature trichina are about the thirtieth of an inch in length; 
the young trichina much smaller. The lower portion of the 
gastrocnemius muscle, which I examined and found filled with 
these parasites, estimated at one hundred thousand to the cubic 
inch, is about three feet from the intestines. How it must have 
required these young trichina to have burrowed at least six 
inches each day through the tissues to have reached this portion 
of the muscle, making no allowance for obstructions. It appears 
to me incredible that so small a parasite, and one showing so little 
evidence of motion, should make such rapid progress through 
the different tissues of the body. The theory that the young 
trichina enter and are diffused by the circulation to all 
parts of the system, accounts for the rapidity with which 
they find their way into all the voluntary muscles, and also 
accounts for the oedema by the circulation in the capillaries 
becoming obstructed, producing a form of thrombus or embol- 
ism. Objections, however, may be found to this theory, and the 
subject requires further investigation to clear up the obscurity 
by which it is enshrouded. 20 
Report on Trichinosis. 
It will readily be seen that the diagnosis in the first stages of 
this disease must be extremely difficult, particularly during the 
gastro-enteric stage. The diarrhoea and vomiting produced 
from intestinal irritation, whether from indigestible food or 
from trichina, would have a close resemblance, and after the 
disease has continued for several days, it still presents difficul- 
ties, and no doubt has frequently been mistaken and treated, 
like the cases we have presented, for typhoid fever, or some 
other disease which it resembles. But after trichinosis has con- 
tinued until the trichina have entered the muscles, and we have 
observed persistent diarrhoea and vomiting, followed by oedema 
of the surface, pruritis, rash, erythema, sweats, low fever, and 
but little elevation of temperature, prostration, and during the 
continuance of the disease, the mind clear, even without inquir- 
ing what meat has been eaten, we may reasonably suspect 
trichinosis, which would be demonstrated by detecting trichina 
in the evacuations. 
It has been supposed that the epizootic which has been pre- 
vailing amongst the swine, known as hog cholera, arises from 
trichina, and we see it stated in Flint's Practice of Medicine, page 
501, that “ the affection known as hog cholera, is supposed to be 
trichinosis.” While trichinosis was prevailing in Aurora, hog 
cholera was also prevailing in Boone county, Kentucky, a few 
miles east of Petersburgh. I at that rime procured flesh from 
six hogs which had died with unmistakable symptoms of hog 
cholera and after a most careful microscopic examination of this 
flesh for hours together, assisted by my son, Dr. Willis E. Sutton, 
we were unable to detect in a single instance trichina. 
Several years since, we made a series of experiments with 
hog cholera, the report of which may be found in the May 
number of the second volume of the North American Medico- 
Chirurgical Review. From my experience with the two diseases 
I regard them as entirely distinct. Hog cholera is highly infec- 
tious ; the latent period of infection is from twelve to twenty 
days, and like measles and small-pox, is self-limited, and one 
attack exempts from a second. We have no evidence that 
trichinosis in the swine is as highly infectious, or that it is as 
definitely self-limited in running its course, or that one attack Report on Trichinosis. 
21 
of trichinosis exempts a hog from a second. We think, then, 
that our microscopic examinations have proven most con- 
clusively that hog cholera does not depend upon trichinosis. 
Thus we see the subject of trichinous pork is one of great 
importance; important in a commercial point of view, important 
to the agriculturalist; important as an article of food, in affecting 
the health of the community, and consequently important to the 
physician ; important to the sanitarian; and these little parasites 
themselves are not only an important, but highly interesting, 
subject for investigation to the zoologist: for when we consider 
their minuteness, their wonderful vitality, their rapid develop- 
ment in numbers and rapid diffusion throughout the muscular 
system, the millions drawing their vitality from the body which 
they pervade, and then entombing themselves in the muscular 
system to lie in a dormant state an indefinite period, or until 
they are again introduced into the stomach of a living animal, 
the proper habitat for their resurrection, they certainly must be 
regarded as among the wonderful things in nature, and must 
become, not only of interest to the naturalist, but well worthy 
of careful investigation by the medical profession. 
From the facts which have been presented we draw the fol- 
lowing conclusions : 
First. That the cases of trichinosis that came under our 
observation in the city of Aurora, Indiana, were produced from 
eating uncooked pork in the form of smoked sausage—a 
mode of eating this meat common to our German population. 
Second. That we reiterate what is already known : that it is 
only by thoroughly cooking the meat that the vitality of 
trichina can he destroyed, and that eating smoked or dried pork 
uncooked, in any form, or the partially cooked ham used in the 
form of sandwiches, common in eating houses, is attended with 
danger. 
Third. That from microscopic examinations of pork killed 
in south-eastern Indiana, we have found from three to sixteen 
per cent, of the hogs affected with trichina—the number of 
hogs diseased varying greatly in different localities. 22 
Report on Trichinosis. 
Fourth. That over five millions of hogs are slaughtered and 
packed in the western states, not including those which are 
put up for family use by the farmers; that if four per cent, of 
this pork is diseased, which we believe to be a low estimate, we 
have two hundred and twenty-one thousand four hundred and 
eighty-four diseased hogs put annually upon the market; or, at 
an average of two hundred pounds to the hog, forty-four mil- 
lions two hundred and ninety-six thousand eight hundred 
pounds of diseased meat, every ounce of which, under favorable 
circumstances, is capable of producing disease. 
Fifth. That from the cases of trichinosis that came under 
our observation, and the post-mortem examinations, and the 
effects upon the dog that was fed on the diseased meat, we have 
come to the conclusion that ninety per cent, of disease produced 
from eating trichinous pork appears either as gastro-enteritis, or 
as a diarrhoea or dysentery, and not more than ten per cent, as 
the fully developed form of trichinosis in which the muscular 
system becomes affected. 
Sixth. That as diarrhoea, dysentery and enteritis rank high 
as causes of mortality in the United States—these diseases causing 
thirty-one thousand one hundred and fifty-three deaths in 1870, as 
shown by the last census reports—and as we have seen that a 
large amount of tricliinous pork, capable of producing these 
diseases, is amongst the principal articles of food in our coun- 
try, we think it more than probable that trichina have a much 
greater influence in the etiology of this class of diseases than 
has been recognized by the profession. 
Seventh. That it is highly probable that when the fact 
becomes more generally known, that so large a per cent, of pork 
is swarming with trichina capable of producing disease, that it 
may have an effect upon the use of this meat, and consequently 
affect the sale, to some extent, of one of the principal articles of 
commerce in the west. 
Eighth. That as pork is the principal animal food of a large 
portion of the population of the United States, the subject is of 
great importance—important to the agriculturist; important to 
the sanitarian, as affecting the health of the community; Report on Trichinosis. 
important to the physician, and not only important, but highly 
interesting as a subject of investigation to the zoologist. 
Ninth. That as it is stated in one of our medical text books, 
that “ hog cholera ” and trichinosis are supposed to be the same 
diseases, we have ascertained beyond all doubt, by careful 
microscopical examinations of the flesh of hogs that had died 
with unmistakable symptoms of hog cholera, that the two dis- 
eases are entirely distinct.