trichinosis (tri kinos is)

[NL., Trichina + -osis.] A disease caused by the presence of Trichina spiral is in large numbers in the intestines, and by the migration of embryos of the same worm from the intestines into the muscu lar ti ue. See Trichina. The worms are introduced into the human body in raw meat from infected swine. Since many persons may eat meat or sausage from the same animal, the disease has generally prevailed in epidemics. The severity of the disease depends largely on the number of parasites consumed. It may begin with chilly sensations or a distinct chill, and there may be a slight fever of varying intensity in the course of the dis ease. Digestive disturbances are very common. They consist in sensations of discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These may appear several hours or days after the eating of infected meat, or they may be entirely absent. They are referable to the irritation caused by the worms in the intestine. Next to these symptoms, those af fecting the muscular system are the most important. In all cases they begin with a sensation of general lamene of the muscles. This is followed by swelling, firmne , and great tenderne of the invaded muscles. Mastication, deglutition, and respiration are rendered difficult. Muscular pains are frequent, especially on moving. Swelling of the eyelids and of the face, appearing usually on the seventh day, is quite characteristic. Edema of the limbs is not uncommon. The disease, which terminates when the muscle-trichinæ have come to rest, lasts from five weeks to four months. The mortality varies in different epidemics, and has been as high as thirty per cent. The presence of encysted trichinæ in the muscles does not lead to permanent disability. Trichinosis of swine is of great economic and hygienic importance, and has received much attention. In order to detect it, muscular fibers from the diaphragm, and from the intercostal, abdominal, laryngeal, and lingual muscles, are examined, because the worms are most abundant in these localities. Very small, slender strips are cut from these muscles parallel to the course of the fibers, crushed between two gla slides and examined under a microscope. Meat infected with trichinæ is made harmle by thorough cooking. Many authorities refer the source of trichinosis in swine to trichinized rats eaten by them. Some incline to the view that the disease is propagated by allowing swine to feed upon the infected viscera of slaughtered swine. Also trichiniasis. trichinotic (trik-i-notʼik), a. [ Two out of three hundred and covered to be trichinous. thirty swine were disThe American, VI. 45. IMG:content-0849.png:[blocks in formation] Trichocephalus axis, forms within the scleroblast a sheaf of exceedingly fine fibrillæ which may be straight or twisted; also, one of these fibrille: as, "fine fibrillæ or trichites," Sollas.-2. In lithol., one of various dark-colored (or even black) opaque microliths, having more or le of a curved and twisted form: frequently seen in thin sections of vitreous rocks, especially in obsidian. II. a . Same as trichitic . Trichite sheaves form in some sponges... a dense accumulation within the cortex. Encyc . Brit ., XXII. 418. trichitic (trī-kit'ik), a. [ trichite + -ic.] 1. Finely fibrous or fibrillar, as a trichite; of or pertaining to trichites.-2. In lithol ., having the character of or containing trichites. Trichiuridæ (trik-i-ū'ri-dē), n. pl. [NL., the fins of nearly equal extent. It thus included the typical Trichiuridæ and others more like Scombridæ. (b) By later writers it has been restricted to forms having numerous small anal spines. See cut under Trichiurus. tri chi uri form (trik-i-ū'ri-fôrm), a. [ form. Silvery Hairtail, or Cutlas-fish ( Trichiurus lepturus). long filament in which the tail ends. The species are also called ribbon - fish. T. lepturus, the type species, is the silvery hairtail, or cutlas fish.