Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-29
CALLED OK-W0RM DISEASE.
t.-rel, Responsible for "Dirt-Eat-
ing "nosin-chcwins." and A,lex-

WASHINGTON, D. c.. October s.
fs,ccta! THE Marine Hospital service
has inst succeeded In investigating and
tracing a comparatively new and danger
Gus disease IN the South report has
5aan made on the disease. which was first
discovered In Virginia but this repor; is
preliminary. The report is by DR. Chrrles
sya-jf1l stiles, chief OF the Division Of
g.a-os, who was detailed to make the
.ryrs: cation DR.. Stiles goes into the fire.
G. acy and geographic distribution OF the
Is.ase. which is termed the hook. worm
O Sc" and which seems TO be Of sut1i-
cent Importance 10 merit serious discus
so. from an eminent scientist
or Stilcs's Investigation is best told in
his aHn language. re says:
Meeting the disease in the Virginia
o7-rcr-mine district OF southern Virginia
northern North Carolina. I have thus
traced il through the coal-mine dis
TT q Cumnock. y. c.. the hrfcl1-yards
or camden. S. c.. and the Eranite-sand
district Of Lancaster and Kershaw coun-
tins s c.
:~e prevalent IN sandy regions than in
r districts. On the farms and pIanta-
trs Of the sand region Of the two corn-
u.s just mentiored. it appears to be the
most common disease of man. and from
. economic point OF view il appears to
81 u great Importance. The extreme
eases seem to occur more commonly
lrzH,E children and women than among
IEa'l males over *. but the present facts
al my disposal co not indicate that the
a6y s quite so fatal the European
,5-m q the disease caused by uncinaria
igc6sualis. All OF the cases thus far
<wined are due TO nncinaria arneri-
ara demonstrating clearly that this is
an endemic infection and totally inde-
aa16ent OF the cases which have been
rro7uced from Europe Asa, and north
t-a Africa.
in general. IT may be said that the
male skin the heart disease the 'diar-
aas. the 'bloat and the suppression Of
-auses which have thus far examined.
nd represented various stages of heavy
rr5rtions with uncinaria americana, and
IS Impossible to esca pc the conclusion
hst Sc far as the farms and plantations
IRE concerned. q radical change in the
rene-al therapeutics pra cticed in the To-
,aI=ties in question is urgently indicated.
en- il should be recalled that the disease
n question is resulting In loss In wages.
0ss in productiveness Of the farms. loss
In the school attendance of the children.
evtra expenses for drugs and for physi-
Ciars.s services. etc.
The heavy and frequent infections
found are amply explained by the almost
f0ral absence of closets on the farms Wis
ted DELEGATION occurs at almost any
place within a radius Of so meters from
he house or hut. and as result the
7req1ises become heavily infested with
the empryos.
A POOR MANS MALADY.
The disease as thus far traced Is pri-
raariIy a poor mans maiady. and IN fre-
-ueacy ii far exceeds even the most ex-
irene limit which theoretical deductions
seemed to Justify before commencing the
lid work There Is, in fact. rot the
slightest room for doubt that unc.naria-
SIS is one OF the most important and
most common diseases OF this part Of the
south. especially on farms and planta-
Tons In sandy districts, and indications
are not entirely lacking that much OF the
trouble ropuiarly attributed to d.rteat-
irg' res.n-che wing and even some OF the
proverbial laziness OF the poorer classes
OF The white population are in reality va
Tious manifestations OF UnclNarias!s.
The infection among the miners SO far
IS discovered. is less severe and less com
mon than the Infection on the farms and
plantations of the sandy districts.
For years the poor people in the sano
regions spoken Of by Dr.. Stiles have been
raparted TO be clay-eaters, and to TINS
is attributed their pale corpleXions and
absolute lack OF energy and laziness. Inc
report lends a different aspect 10 the
case and is expected to sead TO further
research by the medical profession which
Will be greatly interested in what Dr.