The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-05
GERM OF LAZINESS FOUND?
DISEASE or THE "CRACkER" AND
or SOME NATIONS IDENTIFIED.
DR.. Charles NardeiI stiles. DiscoVe rer OF
the Hook Worm Disease. Describes
Its Curious Effects to the sanitary
Conference Of American Republics

Its Curious Effects to the sanitary
Conference Of American Republics
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The Sanitary Con-
ference Of American Republics closed it's
sessions to-day with declaration almost
sensational in it, significance. Dr.. Charles
Wardell Stiles, Zoologist Of the Bureau
Of Animal Industry Of the Agricultural
Department and we'll known in the medical
world as tho discoverer of uncinariasis
or the hook worm disease. as il IL called
declared in an address to the conference
this afternoon that this disease was mainly
responsible for the condition of the poor
whites of the sand districts of the South.
and also indirectly for the conditions which
have resulted in the crusade against child
labor in the Southern cotton mills.
DR.. Stiles s address was listened to with
the closest attention, as he was not only
the discoverer Of the disease. but of the
parasite which causes IT, The disease
itself has only been known TO medical
science since last May. DR.. Stiles has just
returned from an extensive tour Of the
Southern States, made with the purpose Of
finding a remedy for the malady and TO ac-
quire knowledge Of it in all it's phases.
He explained that uncinarlasis pro-
duces a condition of which the symptoms
are greatly like those of continued malaria.
for which it is almost invariably mistaken.
The presence Of this disease in the South
in past years, he said, had resulted in the
pitiable condition Of the poor whites in
many of the Southern States. lite pres
ence in succeeding generations had re-
suited in their inferior physical develop
ment and mental powers and is the cause
of the proverbial laziness Of the -cracker.
This laziness, DR.. Stiles says, is an abnormal
and not normal condition; and attention
paid to this matter by planters and farmers
IN the Southern States would result in not
only improved conditions generally, but
a great Increase of the percentage OF work
which they would secure from their en-
ployees.
The crusade against child labor in the
South. DR. Stiles declared. was due indl
rectly TO the general presence of this dis
ease and he made the remarkable state
ment that children who came from the coun-
try districts to work in the mills became
generally greatly improved as result
Of the better sanitary conditions in the
cities and the better facilities for the cure
OF the disease.
AsregardS tho age Of children In the mills,
Or. Stills said that rcformers who went
through the cotton factories and other
places in the southern States where such
labor was employed. were generally deceived
regarding the ages Of these minor en-
ployees. one Of the characteristics Of the
disease being that il stunted not only the
mental development but the physical
growth as well, and made men and women
of 20 TO % years Of age seem only about
IA TO 10
DR.. Stiles said that the disease had been
diagnosed and II was susceptible Il cure.
The trouble was to identify IL and prescribe
the remadiaa tn Hn this il would
be necessary to educate the physicians
in the sand Districts as to the symptoms,
causes and effects Of the disease. and TO
this end the Department Of Agriculture
would shortly issue a report prepared by
him. which would he widely distributed
In the Southern States.
In describing the symptoms Of the disease
DR.. Stiles asserted that II created an alb
normal appetite for different things in
individual cases and that the dirt eaters"
were almost all sufferers from it. The
disease itself, he asserted. was due not
TO the habit Of eating dirt, AZ some physi-
clans have claimed, but that. reversely,
the habit itself is due TO the disease. The
famous pickle eaters Of North Carolina
were also sufferers from the disease. and
their abnormal and peculiar appetite was
the result Of certain stage Of the disease
DR.. Stiles concluded by arguing that
information concerning the malGdy be
spread broadcast and predicted that when
~
noticeable improvement would take place
in the condition Of the poor whites Of the
South. The strongest man made to live
under conditions approximating those,
under which the average cracker abides
would, DR.. Stiles said soon contract the
disease and in short time reach the same
condition Of physical and moral stagna-
ton As the poor whites themselves.
A number of the South American dele
gates expressed their belief that such
a disease existed in certain South American
countries and was responsible Tor the
backward condition of the people there.
They promised thoroughly to invest igate
the subject on their return to their re-
spcctive countries.
The conference adopted resolutions intro
duced by DR.. Arthur X Reynolds OF Chicago,
that If all the discharges Of every existing
case OF typhoid fever and Asatic cholera
were Instantly disinfcctcd typhoid fever
and Asiatic cholera would cease to he
a menace to the world; and that as bubonic
plague and other diseases are spread by
rats, mice and other lower animals which
find sustenance in garbage, all organic
waste and garbage should he kept sep
ara'ely until 1t can be removed unmixed
with anything else.
Another resolution was adopted assert
ing that 1t was the sense of the convention
that yellow fever was transmissible by
mosquitoes.
1t was then decided by unanimous vote
that the next sanitary conference meet in
Santiago Chile, March IS, 1904. and with
speeches 10y the representatives Of all tho
American republics present and mutual
expressions of congratulation over the
work accomplished and to be done in the
future the conference ad journcd