New-York tribune., 1909-11-07

a German clergyman and zoo1ozist In
1si3 an Italian physician found The hook
worm IN man. and later the anemia
among italian brickmakers and dizsers IN
earth was understood. An epidemic ~
tunnel disease among the workers IN the
ST. GOthard tunnel in 1s79 called scientific
attention TO the Importance Of the nnaladv
After this reports from all over the world
showed that the hoOkworm was an inter
national character. America was. indeed.
thought 70 be exempt.
There were here a few supposed m,
ported cases of hookworm in the earlv
9o's Dr. Bailey X. Ashford. a young
army physician. diagnosed the disease in
Porto Rico in 1899 and attributed 10 n one
third of the deaths on the island Or.
Allen j. Smith. Of the University Of Texas.
in Galveston. found the disease among his
students in 1901. but while he was working
on his announcement Of discovery Dr.
Stiles. who had long been on the traH Of
the parasite. published. IN May. 1902. ths
existence of native American hookworn
and its wide habitat.
In order to account for the serious blood
loss in the disease. which the limited con-
sumption Of hair size parasites however
numerous. could not explain. IL was sur
stance which prevented the normal coagu-
lation of the blood and thus caused It's In
definite flow from the puncturss whicn
they made. Drs Smith and Loeb proved
the surmfse to be correct by experiments
with canine hookworm which Is a cousin
of the American human parasite.
a German scientist named LOOss discov-
cred by accident the extraordinary burg
lariOus method Of the Iarvss. A drop OF in
fected water fell ON his hand. he had "A
smarting sensation; he observed that
within few minutes most Of the larvae
had disappeared under the skin. leaving
their waterproof coats behind them. Ten
weeks later the scientist had we'll de-
veIoped case Of hoOkworm. Carrying on
the Investigation with human subject
and with dogs which we're infected and
periodically chIoroformed so that their It's
sues might be examined under the micro
scope. Looss followed the trail Of the
Larvae from the outer skin to the Intestinal
tract Of the victims.
Among the crackers and poor white
trash" Of tho Scuth-squatters and tenant
farmers Of the SANDY pine barreu=. who
are the chief sufferers from hookworm-
the disease is vsriously known as 't'e
lazy sickness the big lazy." dew itch.
parent that the latter terms refer % the
period Of Infection by IarvaF. which cause
a redness and irritation they bore mn
the skin. Since a majority of Tho poor
whites of both SEXES ami an ages 60
barefoot. the laTvc usually ind on'I3
through the skin oG their feet.
Dirt eating is a peculiar symptom OF
tire maIddy. The victims eat clay mHd'
scot moytar. cotton. rotten wood ana
many other things. besides caeNln-
coffee resin. lemons and pickles 10
satisfy the abnormal craving of tner
diseased systems. \ boy ate three coats
in d years time a girl devoured human
hair and Dr. stiles observed one p'TS'"
consuming I've mice Tho local rcmed''s
used for the disease are whiskey ana piC
ent medicines containing alcohol. which 'r
course. are WORSE than useless. iron ni-
inss in vinegar are drunk as a hl"od t'"'.
Voodoo spells are even invoked in behalf
of sufferers.
II was e3rly discovered that t.Iym"i ana
EPSON salts would vanquish hook worms.
Thvmol which is an sNtrsct of thyE'. h''
the effect of paralyzinE the parasite ana"
compelling them To loosen their grip on tne
mucous membrane of the Wtestinfs. 10
takes a couple Of hours for The thynoi I'D
got in it's work on the nookw"rms. an"
then they may he entIrely cleared ""t 'i
the system. Generally a single treaimsn'
j. Sufhcient. ~ the patient has been catinE
fats or drinking liquor Just before treat
ui.nt the thym"I will be dissolved. ana.
entering the system. may act upon tne
heart with fatal effect
Tho Rockefeller commission has not -
adopted a programmes ,or its campaign
against the diSease. but ia Will PTohaoN
tske up the measures suggested SOME time
ago by pg StilcS. which include an annual
public health week. in the schools Nn'h
children will be Taught the dangers ~ w-
fsCtion.t house to- house Csavssses n tnS
back country districts by medical stud nts
ON vacation - snhghten the natives. lec'-
ures by physicians and trained nurses IN
town halls. churches and schooihouses'
the distrihution of pamphlets and other
printed mItt,r t"iIuS about tn' disease
an institution Tor free diagn, sis and treat
mcnt and The ptsstnS of laws tn the 7'N-
eaI Southern states O." permit thc a'o's
measures and to promote the anirh"'N'
worm campaign
Legislation compelling landlords Sn"
school trustees - provide sauitVrN accom-
rlodationS tor tenants and scholars N'"'"
accomplish muSn IN slcrt timo The sue
cess of the campaign. apart from t"s or
fetal action of legislatures and h"at'7 "
health. will depeud uron extensive pun
Hcity. starr \. Murphy. a member "t ''c
commission and Mr.. RoCSrfeuers connS'i
IN hcneyOleucc. cuophGsized the puhl'"'
feature of tho campaign when sp'dN"-
with a Tribune representative
% is likely that rot 80 much "' ~
81 00000o Cuud win oe spent m buying 'ns
mol and EPSON salts tu carlots a. 'n
southern Methodist bishop sprrenenoN
When the southern peopie urders'and IN"
trouble most of them viii be able 20 o"S
their own drugs Most Of the 'Nerii'''@
fund viii probably go for edncat'oh s'''
legislation.
\ late dispatch from san Frsnc'se" S''
that huadre,'S of eases cf hcokworm ht'e
been imported in.o California IN me as
fCw years from Hawaii. the tnnpp'
aud the Orient Almost half a co'''F
o, West Indian lahorers wio hsd
vorkine m the Itsweiian sussr piar.u
and came To The Pacific coast