Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-11-26
HOOkWORM DISEASE.


the new order witnesses the discovery
of new disease AS the field of inves-
tigation has been widencd, and as the
methods of research have been improv--
ed, unknown complaints have been
identified and have been assigned to
their proper cause. One of the most
recent of these discoveries, and one
which has most interesting history is
hookwOrm disease. This Bulletin is
intended to explain to the people of
Virginia the character and symptoms
of this disease, its effects and the meth
DDS by which it may be cured.
HISTORY OF THE DISEASE.
For many years physicians have
known that in certain sections of the
Southern States large part of the pop
ulation suffered from an obscure dis
ease, the chief symptom of which was
anemia or rimpoverishment of the blood.
These persons were always found in
poor physical condition, and their
blood, upon examination, was thin and
pale. In some cases, the sufferers from
this malady were addicted to the habit
Of eating dirt, though this habit was
not known to play any part in their
disease. In the absence of any other
disease which answered to these symp-
toms, the complaint was generally con-
sidered form of malaria and was
treated by such.
With the discovery that malaria is
caused by parasite which can be easi-
ly detected in the blood, when examin-
ed under microscope, 1t was manifest
that the typical disease described above
was not malaria. It remained for a
government official to determine the
true nature of the disease and to sug-
gest the proper remedy. To DR.. Charles
WardelI Stiles, of the United State
Public Health and Marine Hospital
service, who performed this service, the
South owes great debt for this discov-
cry.
From his scientific studies, DR.. Stiles
became convinced that the well-known
hookworm disease of Europe might Oc-
cur in America. In an effort to deter
mine the correctness of this view, DIR.
Stiles made tour of the South and WIS.,
tied those sections in particular where
the mistaken s'malaria" existed. In
certain regions he found that large
numbers of persons, suffering from the
typical anemia noted above, were really
afflicted with hookworm disease. When
this fact was once established, DR..
Stiles made complete investigation of
the disease and eventually was able to
describe in detail its cause, its course,
and the methods by which it is spread.
THE CAUSE OF HOOKWORM DISEASE
AND METHODS BY WHICH IT is
SPREAD.
Hook worm disease is due to the pres
ence in the small intestines, and occa-
sionally in the stomach, of minute
worms. These worms, when grown,
are often half-inch in length and are
about as thick as a hairpin. They enter
the intestines in the manner described
below, and attach themselves to the
walls. They cling there, suck the blood
of the person attacked and produce 8
poison which seriously Injuries the en-
tire system of the person affected.
Once in the intestines, the hook
worms lay large numbers of minute
eggs, which are passed by thousands in
the stools. When this egg is deposit
ed on the ground, it begins to develoI
rapidly. In a few hours, or, under ad
, verse circumstances, in few days, s
Very small worm matches from the egg
For some days this worm feeds anc
then it reaches stage where it cease;
feeding and is ready to infect person
After a rain, or as result OF cOndi
tions not yet fully understood, th'
worm becomes very active. If a person
walks in his bare feet over one of these
worms, the latter will attach itself tt
the sole of the foot and will bore it
way through the skin. In q few day.
the familiar tground-itch" will de
velop, which is the first stage OF tn
disease. The worm continues it boring
reaches the blood and ultimately find
: its way to the intestines. The diseas
may, however, be contracted withou
the ssgtound-itch. The young worn
may get into the drinking water, ant
may be swallowed without being dis
covered. Under these circumstances
the worm may readily reach the intes
tines and may develop into the blood
sucking adult. All the typical symE
toms of the disease will then be observa
BILE.
CONDITIONS THAT FAVOR AND RETARl
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOOK
WORM.
The eggs cannot develop into tn
young capable of injecting man unles
they remain outside the body for som
days. If deposited in a water-clOse
they will generally be washed ava
and Will perish without doing furthe
harm. 1t is probably for this reaso
that hookworm disease is seldom foun
among those living in cities; and it
certainly because of the absence (
closets in country districts that the di
ease spreads there rapidly. In ella
soil, the eggs will generally perish b
fore reaching maturity, but in sand
soil they thrive at their best. Hem
it follows that those living in sandy Sc
tions are most liable to the disease.
THE ADVANCED SYMPTOMS OF HOO1
WORM DISEASE.
The presence of the adult hookwor
I, i