The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-23
No Fear Of Its Extending North
Beyond tho National Capital.
IT IS A PECULIAR COMPLAINT.
Brought on BY Parasite Which Bores
Through the lntestlnes, Causing
Great Weakness.

Baltimore. Dec 22.-The patient at the
Johns Hopkins hospital who has been un-
der treatment for several days for "anky-
lostoma" or the "lazy disease is I'M
proving and is very likely to recover. This
n most peculiar complaint only one
other case has come under the observa-
tion OF the Baltimore physicians. That
was an English sailor.
The most striking symptoms Of the dis
ease are disinclnation for physical exer-
tion, lassitude and weakness. The present
patient came TO the hospital with the
statement that his brother had died from
the disease which was upon him and was
badly frightened.
A post-mortem examination OF the
brothers body was held, and this re-
veaied the fact that many thousands or
infinitesimal parasites. known as unciD-
aria dunderalls, had been actively AT
work boring into the mucous membrane
OF the dead mans intestines, had caused
a loss of blood with resultapt lassitude
and inertia and finally produced death.
COMES FROM SANDY SOIL.
DIR. Charles wardeil stiles. chief OF the
bureau of animal industry, In Washlng-
ton who is credited with having dlscoV-
cred the existence OF the disease In TINS
country. paid a visit 10 the hospitai anu
concurred In the diagnosis made tnere.
DR. stiles said his discovery consisted
merely in the recognition OF specinc
American parasite, which develops In per-
sons in warmer climates, especially III
those persons inhabiting sandy areas
This parasite causes an anaemic CON
dition, and also brings about certain
other symptoms One prominent symp-
tom is weakness and. of course the per-
sons affected do not feel able 10 work In
cases OF light infection.
..I look upon this germ as being one
OF the most important factors, II not the
most important factor in determining the
present low physical condition or the
poorer classes among the white popula-
tion in the sand and pine wood districts
in the South.
.'I found children In the southern cot
ton mills to he suffering from the dis
ease. They did not contract the disease
in the mills. The children came from
sand farms, and are undoubtedly better
OF in the mills than they were on the
farms.
NORTHERN LIMIT WASHINGTON.
ct do not believe the disease will spread
very much north OF Washington. all
though some cases will probably be found
among the coal miners In Pennsylvania
We have Is cases OF II at present In one
OF the government hospitals IN the Dis
trict OF Columbia. but they probably did
not develop in the district. II Is more
or less common disease in Europe. Asia.
Africa. and the Philippines. but the germ
which causes IL there Is entirely distinct
from the one usually found In this coun-
try.
"It is not bacillus nor bug; but a
worm--a parasite"
DIR. stiles has spent much time in the
South studying the new parasite and It's
effects. Recently he took a trip as far
south as Florida, making 20 stops and
looking for the presence Of she parasite
in penitentiaries, orphan asylums, cottor
mills and sand and pine-tree districts
mines. coal mines and plantations
He found that Is per cent. OF the or
phans OF the South were afflicted will
the disease. He also found he declares
that on plantations where 30 men wer
employed and the disease prevalent
men were able TO do the work OF onl!
about IS men. DIR. Stiles says the physi
clans In the South recognize the disease
but in many cases confuse II with mala
ria.