Neurocysticercosis

Abstract

Some authors state that Hippocrates alluded to cysticercosis, although in the book by Adams¹ entitled The Genuine Works of Hippocrates, there is no reference to this effect.¹ However, Aristophanes, in one of his comedies written about 390 B.C., referred to the bladders of cysticerci and how to search for them in pigs’ tongues, accurately comparing their appearance to that of hailstones.² In his History of Animals, Aristotle (384–322 B.C.) described the diseases of pigs, which he classified in three types. The third of these is described as follows:... pigs whose meat is tender have bladders which are like hailstones in the region of the thigh, neck, and loin; these are the regions in which they generally appear. If they are few in number, the meat is leaner; if there are many, the meat becomes soft and filled with serous fluid. Pigs affected with this disease are easily recognized; in effect, the bladders can be seen on the inferior surface of the tongue where they are particularly abundant. Furthermore, the sick animals cannot keep their hind legs still. However, pigs do not suffer from this disease while they are nursing. The bladders can be made to disappear with “spelt wheat” (a species of wheat from cold, poor lands), which at the same time serves as fodder.³