The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-15
HOOK WORM DISEASE
SOME PLAIN FACTS ABOUT THE
MALADY
Which Directly and Indirectly Kills
More People Than Consumption
or Typhoid Fever.

from the disease, every person az
fected is an unconscious and inno-
cent agency for its wider distribu-
ton. Water closets are an unknown
quantity in those rural districts to
which reference has been made. Re-
sort is had to places adjoining prem
ises, to places alongside large and
small roads, which run through ev-
cry county in the State, of course,
and to any other locality that sus-
gests itself to the individual judg-
msnt.
The waste products Of persons af-
ficted with uncinariasis litera!lJ
swarm with the eggs of the para
site. AS consequence it requires
no effort of the imagination to un-
derstand that the soil in hundreds
of rural districts is Systematically
polluted, recruited year in and year
out with incRlcuable supplies OF
the little creatures 80 heavy with
menace to the health Of thousands
of people in the South.
AS soon as the eggs hatch out 1t
is the first instinct of the larva or
embroyo worm to seek water wheth-
er in the form of mul-puddles along
public roads, standing pools about
country houses, or perhaps in drop
of dew in grass or weeds.
A child, let us sayA and children
are the main sufferers ebecause Of
the barefoot habit during warm
weather, crushes with its naked foot
weeds or grass near its own home,
perhaps paddles in pools along. the
roadside or treads on soil sufficiently
moist to encourage the attention OF
the larva. The tiny insect, as yet
invisible to the unaided eye, heres
promptly through the sole Of the
foot-and the mischief IS done.
Within a short time after the en-
bryo worm has gained entrance to
the body the bottom of the foot be-
comes irritated and the child, or
adult, deNs5ops a typical case of
what is commonly called ground
itch"
Look for the Ground Itch.
How many children have been at
tackled by this ground itch? Count
less thousands, undoubtedly, and IL
the great majority of instances 1t is
but the prelude to the subsequent
DEVELOPMENT of uncinariasis, which
is, in all probability, destined Ia
warp the chid's life for years after
ward, and not improbably to lead to
it's death.
BY a circuitous route the embroyo
worm follows the circulation Of tn ::
blood into the lungs. Here it bcrcs
it's way through the arterial vessels
into the air spaces of the lungs anu
from the air spaces it goes into the
small broncti. 1t then arises with
the mucus that collects about>it into
the threat and is in turn swallowed
by the individual and Is carried into
the stomach and intestines. Here
the worm, or worms, catch fast hold
on the walls, or mucous membranes.
sucking blood and en!arging Until
they reach the adult stage in
month or six weeks. 1t Is at this
time that the symptoms of the dis
ease manifest themselves Watch
them carefully, searching back care
fully for a history Of the almost in
syitable ground itch in the child or
adult. for while the larva is occa-
introduced into the system
by drinking water, its invasion in
this respect is negligible compared
to the barefoot route.
Stunted Growth Result OF Hook
Worm.
The subject will become profound
ly anemic, that is, bloodless. The
skin grows pale, assuming yellow
Ish tint, and If the infection has BEEN
sufficiently severe. shortness ii
breath and dropsy ensue. Death
sometimes follows this stage, but as
a rule the patient drags along an
inert, miserable exlstance,
vitality and resisting power Infinite
Iy lowered, ready to fall quick VIC
tim to any more virulent disease
that attacks the system. That is one
Of the most pernicious features of
uncinariasis, the fact that it so weak
ems its victims as to make him Ut
her readily susceptible to other dis
orders that might, in its absence, BE-
combated unnoticed by the system.
Where the disease assails children
in their growing years, and that is
it's stronghold. it invariably paralyh-
IS their mental and physical develop
ment. The child is slow to learn.
sickly, bloodless and indolent, gain
ing a reputation fon stupidity in the
classroom and laziness in the field
referahle to the disease from
which it is suffering, uEconsciouslI
to its parents, teacher and itself.
Frequently C, ildren this affected
reach the years Of maturity with
childish form and features, un
healthy, unambitious and wholly un-
fitted to play the slightest eftectual
part in the work Of the world.
The condition continues as rule
for eight or ten years in the adult
or child, at the end of which time
the ever-corroding worm dies, relin-
quishes it's hold on the intestines and
is expelled from the body. AS often