The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-31
A GERM OF LAZINEss.

n UEhh OF' LAXlNESSs
Some weeks ago the announcement
was made that a government scientist
had discovered laziness-at least GER
tain manifestations of ito be a dis
ease caused by a specific germ. There
was disposition on the part of the
newspaper press to make light of the
matter; to regard it as something of
joke. But there is no joke about
1t. The Treasury Departments n.y.
gienic bureau, which is connected with
the Public Health and Marine Hospital
service, has just issued a bulletin of
121 pages dealing with the prevalence
of "hookworm disease" or "uncinari-
ass." The author of the bulletin, Dr.
c. W. Stiles, has made an exhaustive
examination into the matter in several
sections of the country, with the re-
suit that he finds the disease wide
spread, and to be the cause of dis
tress, pecuniary losses and even death.
The symptoms of the ailment are
lasstude, a Discrimination to exertion,
fiuctuating pulse and appetite, tired
etc. Many persons who are afflicted
with it imagine that they are suffering
from malaria and take quantities of
quinine and nostrums. The real trou-
Bile is hookworm disease, or uncin-
ariass, according to DR.. Stiles. The
disease, by the way, is not modern.
1t was known to the Egyptians as
much as $500 years ago, but it's cause
was not ascertained until modern
times. The first authoritative dag
noses of it in the United States were
made about ten years ago. since which
time the investigation has been pro-
crossing. The life history of the hook
worm is a technical matter of more
interest to the medical man than the
layman. Briefly, the worms are about
half an inch long. They live in the
small intestines, where they suck blood,
produce minute hemorrhages, and in
all probability also produce a substance
which acts as a poison. Infection oc-
ours usually in the rural sand districts.
The symptoms are more severe in sum-
mer than in winter, and white per-
sons appear to be more severely af-
f1icted than negroes. Persons who
come in contact with damp earth are
more commonly afflicted than 9TH
ers. Women and children are
more liable to the disease than
men, especially where the latter
are above twenty-five years old.
Uncinariasis occurs generally in
groups of cases. If one case is found
in family the chances are that the
other members of the family will be
found infected. Cities and towns are
not subject to it. AS with many other
ailments, its prevention is to be found
in strict observance of sanitary rules.
In short it is a filth disease. The
premises may not necessarily be dirty,
but If rigid personal cleanliness is not
observed the infection is likely to be
spread by those suffering from it. I'm
clean finger nails and hands are We
hicles for the spread of the germ of
the hookworm.
DR.. Stiles says all cases of the COM
plant found should be promptly treat
ed with thymol, or male fern, and iron;
and only good, wholesome food should
be eaten by the patient. Following
this there should be thorough disin-
lection. Economically" says Dr.
Stiles, ''uncinariasis is very important.
1t keeps children from school, de-
creases the capacity for both physical
and mental labor, and is one of the
most important factors in determin-
ing the present condition of the poorer
whites in the sand and pine districts"