Title: Trichinoscope

Identifier: LL02.48.04.28   (https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/22094)

Description: This is a specialized microscope for finding <i>Trichinella</i> in pork. Following the observations of Paget and Virchow that Trichinosis is transmitted by uncooked meat especially pork, inspectors would verify that only worm free pork was used in lightly cooked sausage. The meat is compressed between the glass plates and examined at 40 and 100x for organisms. Trichinoscopes were introduced in the third quarter of the 19th century. This one is designed to be carried from shop to shop by the inspector. Waechter was a major manufacturer of these specialized instruments and also made routine microscopes.