Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-30
DR.. STILES on HOOKWORN
Pest Due to Two Closely Allied Races
Living in Same Area.
LIES IN SANITATION
Marine Hospital Service official
DS1ivers address Before n
erinE of Scientists in
Boston.

BOSTON. Mass, Dec. ct Is an I'M
natural biological condition to have two
closely allied species Of animals living side
by side in the same area" said Charles W.
Stiles Of the United States public health
and marine hospital service in an address
on the hookworm problem before the
American Society for the Advancement OF
Science tonight.
The white man has brought diseases
from Europe which are deadly to the
blacks and the negro has brought certain
diseases from Africa which Or spreading
with serious results to the whites" he
added.
He thought that the new movement
towards more modern sanitation in the
south would in time overcome the handicap
resulting from two alien races living side
by side.
More than thirty division meetings
marked tie second day Of the convention
OF scientists and large gatherings listened
10 addresses on problems OF great scientific
and Industrial interest. The address by DR..
Stiles was one Of the most important.
Condemns MinElinE of Races.
Or. stiles spoke on the hookworm disease,
Of which he has made some extensive
study. He declared that in the United
states a law of nature was being violated
when an effort was made to lodge different
races OF men side by side in the same area.
DR.. stiles said in part: ''1
TT is an unnatural biological condition
to have W closely allied species Of ami
mails living side by side in the same area
In Hhis country we have four races Of
animal. viz: The white, the red, the
yellow and the black man-breaking ma
lures laws by trying to live together. The
competition OF the individuals is intensified
by beng extended 10 a competition between
the races and we must. in the end. submit
to the workings OF the law Of the survival
OF the fittest. Different races may have
different diseases and after long genera
lions Of infection a relative immunity may
be developed in a given race through the
! survival OF the fittest Individuals. This
partial immunity 20 the serious effects Of
a disease does not imply immunity from
infection. On the contrary, that very i'm
munity may tend to make the partially
immune race a reservoir for Infection ard
that Infection when trt1 nsmitted to a more
susceptible race will. upon reaching such
virgin soil. be very fatal.
Races Exchange Diseases.
The white race has brought TO the south
certain diseases from north Europe. These
have spread with deadly effects to the
DtaCkS. Inc negroes nave DAOuBHL u AHe
south certain tropical diseases, which have
spread to the whites with serious results.
These conditions are not In any way
blameable to the south as a portion of the
country, but upon the fact that in the
United States we are violating a law OF
nature when we attempt to lodge different
races Of men side by side in the sam
area.
1T is not an exaggeration to say that
the negro in the south lives under a handi-
cap because OF the presence of the white
mans disease, and because OK the pres
ence Of African diseases the white mar
there is also living under a handicap. San
itary science, IL backed by Intelligent, prac-
teal application and authority. can over.
come that handicap. Theory demands tina
in rural negro localities with anything les,
than good sanitation we must find an ex
tensive anomla among the whites, and
practical experience bears out this theory
among the tenant whites of the south.
1T is not only foolish, but cowardly. t
attempt to deny the existing conditions
and pay for a false sense Of local prid,
at the price OF the lives OF women anC
children. Fortunately. the better class o.
thought In the south is facing facts anC
organizing for an extensive campaign t
improve sanitary conditions. And wher
the south shall win its noble fight agains
disease the victory will be great and full!
repay the efforts spent upon it,"
Child Labor on Farms.
DR.. Stiles, speaking Upon child labor il
the south. took a position which some o
his hearers might have Judged radical. H,
said: f,
Il have never defended hid labor a
an abstract proposition but when 1 com
pare child labor and child misery upon tn,
soil polluted one, horse farms with chill
labor under the vastly improved %sanitar!
conditions in the southern cotton mills,
am forced to the conclusion hat the latte
is infinitely better than the former. an,
II II came to . choice between the two 70
my young daughter now 10 years old, m.
duty would compel me to choose for he
a life in the spinning room OF the averag
cotton mill of the south, which 1 hav
visited. in preference to a life OF toll an,
misery on the average ~insanitary tenan
farm I nave studied.
Il am unable to 3ofn in the whoIesal
condemnation of the south's cotton mill
for I recognize in them the best friend
the tenant whites OF the south have"