Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-11-27
HOOKWORM, FOE
OF SOUTHERNERS
Disease to Be Fought by Rock
etcIler'S Million.
DESCRIBED BY DlSCOvERER.
1t viii Take Twenty Years to Eradi-
cate Maiady, Says Or. Stiles--crip-
plies It's Victims Bodily and Mentally.
Can Be Cured Easily.

According to Or. Charles W, Stiles,
the discoverer of the hookworm dis
ease. TO eradicate which John ID. Rock
efeller has given $l,ooo.0oo. the NAL
adv Is confned almost exclusively to
the southern states-chiety 10 the rural
districts IL can be easily cured aud
easily prevented. Yet thousands of
southern country school children are
dwarfed both physically and mentally
by this malady.
"Children who attend rural schools
In the south are In many instances so
enfeebled by the disease that they die
before coming of age" says Or. Stiles.
1.-The south is educating rural children
between the ages of six and twelve
and burying them before they are
twenty-one. thus putting their educa-
ton into the grave.
Cause of Poverty and Distress.
"Hookworm disease is one of the
principal causes--by far the most i'm
portant single cause-of the wretched
physical, mental and financial condi-
ton of the tenant whites OF the
south. Ii is not their fault that they
are lazy, shiftless and lacking in am
bition.
''By reason OF their lack OF decent
sanitary conyeniences many of the
country schools and country churches
In the south are breeding places for
| this malady. Whatever they may do
for education and religion. they are In
their present condition a menace TO
public health.
The Real Negro Problem
THE real acute negro problem in
the south at the present moment is
/ the problem of the hookworm, for
the negro is the principal scatterer of
the parasite, propagating and dissent
mating II wherever he goes. The white
people are the sufferers. particularly
| the tenant whites.
1.-The south does not need q higher
birth rate. but lower death rate. In
| cidentally. if the hookworm mischief
were wiped out the labor problem of
the south would be solved by saving
! the children.
THE leaders in southern thought are
| showing an acute interest In this SUBJ
! ject and are cooperating in move
ment to better the conditions of their
much misunderstood. misinterpreted
and misrepresentcd neighbors who are
in less favorable financial circum-
stances. Southern physicians. espe-
cially the state boards OF health, are
alive to the subject. and many physi-
clans are giving free treatment for
| this disease. The better class OF south
ern newspapers are taking live in
| terest in the matter and are spreading
| the doctrine of proper sanitation.
viii Take Years to Eradicate 1t.
"The difficulties Of the situation
should not. however. be underestimate
| ed II Will take twenty years TO Grad
icate the disease, but results should
begin to show themselves in about five
years"
Medical research in recent years has
| shown that cases apparently hopeless
can be cured easily and quickly: that
couple of simple drugs will relieve "a
victim and ordinary sanitation will
eradicate the hookworm ia neighbor-
hood.
All needed for successful battle
against the disease. according to skill
ed investigators. were money and prop
erly applied energy. Both are now at
hand, thanks TO Mr.. Rockefeller. A
recent article ON the hookworm dis
ease stated that S2.000,OO0 would wipe
out every yestige of II In America.
Those who heard of Mr.. Rockefeller's
gift confidently believed thar If his
$l,000,000 proved as efiicacious as was
expected he would give the other mil
lion readily
The hookworm (uncinaria is its med
ical name and uncinariasis that of the
disease is a parasite, which may be
roughly described as about the thick
ness of hair and the length OF a
pin II is plainly visible without the
aid of microscope. Doctors believe
that II was imported TO this country
by the slaves from Africa.
The worm fastens itself to the walls
Of the intestines. There it justifles its
name Of vampire for 1t lives upon
blood which 1t draws from the delicate
membrane, which it punctures. One
end Of 1.-THE hook end-holds it so fast
that considerable effort Is needed for
its dislodgment. Sometimes hundreds
Of these worms affiict victim. Ia an
autopsy 1853 We're found
Affects Body and Mind.
Not only do they draw away the life
giving blood. but they fill the intes-
final wall SO full Of holes that its
functions are interfered with. and they
withdraw so much blood that the vic
TINS mind and body alike are affected.
A gnawing Is produced. which is re-
lieved by the eating Of common clay.
mortar. cloth, even human hair and
SCOT out Of chimneys. "Echolia."
mental disease. follows If question
is asked WHATS your name?' the
victim replies, My name?" then thinks
a long while before answering. Even
tually there is complete mental and
physical breakdown.