The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-01
LAZY DISEASE"
GRIPS HIS FAMILY
Italian and Ten of His Chill
dren Guaranteed at
Hospital.
FATAL LANOUOR
SEXES VICTIMS
Hook Worms Destroy Red Cor
puscles of Blood-Hands of
Children Translucent.

NEW YORK, July AFFLICTED with
uncinariasis, or "Iazy disease a NAL
ady as dangerous as it is rare in this
country, Giuseppe Masce, an Italian,
and ten Of his children, who landed in
this city from the Argentine Republic
two months ago, are quarantined IN a
tent in front Of the Mt. Vernon Hospital
10 prevent the disease from spreading
The case Of Masce and his children
has attracted the attention Of many
pnysicina swho are eager TO study its
cause and many peculiar symptoms. In
a majority Of cases the languCr which
seizes the victim after he becomes in
fected with the malady proves fatal,
but the physicians in charge OF the
Masce family hope BY the use OF the
most recent methods Of combating the
disease TO save most Of The patients.
Languishing in their cots on the hos
pitaI lawn and feebly turning their
eyes from side 20 side as II nothing IN
life interested them. the eleven patients,
with their pallid countenances and list
less movements. were a sight rarely
seen in the history OF medical science.
Fear Disease May Spread.
A corps Of nurses and several physi-
clans are in constant attendance, IN the
hope not only that most Of the victims
may be saved but that the dangerous
disease may be kept from spreading IN
the city.
The disease is so rare here that the
physicians IN the case are at a loss 10
know whether II is as easily communi-
cable as other contagious diseases.
-,
take any chances OF permitting the
malady 10 spread ard convert the Mt.
Vernon population into inert patients.
most Of whom might be doomed 10 Ger
tain death
II was about ten days ago that the
case Of Masce and his children was
discovered. Masce and his wife brought
20 the office Of DR.. Thomas +. Goodwin
two of their children. The Italians told
Goodwin they had consulted many
physicians in Mt. Vernon. but that none
Of them seemed to know what allied
the children. The cases at first puzzled
DR.. Goodwin. He failed TO find symp-
toms Of any ordinarily disease in the
children Their faces were pallid and
their blood seemed 10 lack almost en-
tirely the red cOgpUscIes that lend color
ed TO be suffering from severe anaemia
or lauguOr, and though not In much
pain, appeared TO take little interest IN
what was going on about them.
Calls in Noted Friend.
After studying the case for a few DAYS
DR. Goodwin called in his friend. Dr. /.
B. GoldhOrn. Of q Eleventh avenue.
Mt. Vernon, a pathoIogist OF interna-
tiOnal reputation. connected with the
Mt Vernon Hospital. The physicians
then went TO work determined to ind
out what allied the victims il there was
any possibility of so doing.
DR.. GOldhorn had made a study Of
the lazy disease" in Germany. and
before long he detected symptoms OF it.
But 10 make sure Of their premises
the two physicians took culture after
culture OF parasites from the patients
and kept these under observation
There was little hope Of money COM
pensatiOu FOR their labor In the cases.
but the two physicians became intense
~ interested and worked on. Mean
while they had the children removed
TO the hospital and qu-rantined there
20 prevent the malady from communi-
eating itself 10 others should il prove
TO be the dangerous disorder that they
SuSDeCre ed.