The Mena weekly star., 1909-11-11
HOOK WORM DIS-
 EASE IN ARKANSAS
rc,. Is Simple and Requires but One Week Description of Symptoms Importance of Eradication
 to tho South.

,.a,, the Hot springs Bulletin.
 Closely upon the heels of the announcement that John D. kock efellow will give million dollars to fight the hook worm or ''' z hug disease comes the disclosurs that the hook worms have many victims in Arkansas.
 Prominent physicians in seve : al of the large towns of the sta e who have studied the hook worm and know the difference between the symptoms. say that hundreds of people in Arkansas who think they are sufferers from malaria really have hook worms feed rg along their aIimentary canal. Tbes parasites so sap the vitality that the victim is absolutely un- able to expend one fourth hts normal energy m work.
 But the remedy is so simple and so cheap that no one who suspects that he is troubled with hook worms need hesitate t, take the treatment. It consists ot a few ceH,s worth of thymole common autiseplic found in many brands of tooth paste, and several doses epsom salts. This should be ad. miuistered by a physician A cure requires about a week and after that there is wonderful even revolutionary change in the condition of the sufferer. He is transformed from weak, pale, stoop-shouldered physical wreck into an energetic, bright-eyed, erect and thriving man, who in a few weeks or more will be rong aud robust.
 The hook worm is not primarily poor mans disease. Many well t, do persons have been eff .cted by it for years and do not suspect 1t. It is a fact, however, that the poor among the farming cla S es are more liable to infection be- cause the disease enters through tue soies of the poorly shod or bare feet from infected ground. Owing to conditions which pre- vail in rural communities ouc sui ierer from the disease polutes the ail wherever he travels and around his dwelling. The hook worm has two lives. In one form it lives as micro organism iu the soil and iu this form it enters the human system through the pores of the skis. Once in the body the worms work their way to the alimentary canal fasien- ing themselves to the intestines. Ia this form they are like fine thread aud about an inch long 4 writer describes the results oi infection as follows:
 "Anaemia IS the 6rst effect. Tue skin changes to a waxy or dirty yellow tallow or tan; if be- comes parchment-like, perspira. ton being more or less suppressed. In chronic cases the skin is atro- phled. The patients face shows an snx ous stupid expression; Ih eyss stare blankly, the pupils arc dIalated, occasionally there is nlght blindness. In the neck ccr- yical pulsation, especially in se- were cases, is very evident; some times this can be seen twelve feet from the patient. A prominent aouoHen IS common. There IS tendency to development of ab' normal appetites for sour things, or of perverted appetite for mud decayed wood, paper, tobacco ashes or garments. Interest ir the commonest affairs wanes. h teyere cases there is a noticeable aelay iu answering questions rsquentey the patient repeats eacn question before answering.
 The thinking men of the na. ton believe that the discovery Q 'ne hook worm and its cure vii work the industrial salvation Q tue South where the hook worn ilourishes.
 Authorities say the disease can not be entirely stamped out il snis generation, but that th' eoush will be comparatively ire Tom this iusidlous plauRe by tn tune the next generation is grown