The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-11-04
GIVES MILLION TO
FIGHT H00KW0RM
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER STARTS
FUND TO WIPE OUT PARASITE
IN SOUTH.
STILES LEADER IN CAMPAIGN.
Discoverer of "Lazy" Sickness and His
Two Colleagues Will Be Members
of Commission.
HOW THE DREAD PEST WAS FOUND

100000 by John d. Rockefeller to fight
the "hookworm disease" was announced
at the office Of the Standard Oil COM
pany here late Thursday.
A dozen well known educators and
scientists. selected in large part from
institutions of learning In the south,
where the parasite is prevalent, were
called in conference with Mr.. Rockefel-
lers representatives at the Standard Oil
company's offices, &c Broadway, last
Tuesday, and at that meeting Mr..
Rockefellers desire to organize com
mission to carry on campaign against
the malady was discussed. AS result
of this discussion of the situation, the
Rockefeller commission for the cradica-
ton of the hookworm disease was or
ganized.
The members of this commission, as
selected by Mr. Rockefeller are:
Dr. William II WEIGH, professor of pa
theology In Johns Hopkins university; presI-
dent of the American Medical association.
DIR, Simon FleXner, director of Rockefeller
Institute for Medical Research
DR.. Charles W. Stiles, chief Of the division
of zoology, United States public health ami
marine hospital service, and diSCovcrer Of
the American species Of hookworm ana the
prevalence of the disease in America.
DIR. Edwin A. Alderman, president OF the
University Of Virginia.
DR.. David Il. Houston, chancellor Of Wash
ington university, St Louis. Mo.
Prof =. L. ClaXton, professor of educa-
ton in the University of Tennessee.
J. Y. Joyner. state superintendent Of
education in North Carolina and president
of the National Educational association
Walter II. Page, editor of the Worlds
Work
Dr. II. b. Trissell, principal Hampton In
stitute.
Frederick T. Gates, one of Mr.. Rockefel-
iers business managers.
Starr j. Murphy MIR. RockcfeNer's coun-
sci in benevolent matters.
John ID. Rockefeller, Jr.
All but Prof. Claxton and Mr.. Joyner
were present at the meeting Tuesday,
and they have both since accepted places
on the boards elected to carry out Mr..
Rockefellers plans.
Interested, Says Oil King.
In calling the men together for Tues
days conference, Mr.. Rockefeller adj
dressed TO each letter pointing out
his interest in relieving the human suf-
iering caused by the hookworm parasite,
especially because, he said, it had been
his pleasure to spend Il portion of each
year among the warm-hcarted people of
the south, and he welcomed the oppor-
tunity to express appreciation of their
many kindnesses and Inequalities.
The members of the commission, in
framing a reply to Mr.. Rockcielers of
fer Of S1,00O,o00, declared that the
proposition met with their hearticst APP
probation.
1.-TWO millions of our people are i'll
fected with this parasite they added.
ut is by no means confined to one class;
it takes its toll of suffering and death
from the intelligent and well-tO-do as
well as from the less Fortunate
Stiles Discovered Pest
WASHINGTON, u. c., Oct. %
Great interest was manifested by officials
of the public health and marine hospital
service here in the announcement of the
gift by John D. Rockefeller of $1,000,
600 for eradCating the ''hOOkwOrm' dis
ease i'll the south.
To DIR. Charles Wardell stiles of the
public health and marine hospital service
belongs the credit for having discovered
the existence of the disease, which they
regard as much greater menace than iS
generally supposed.
The announcement of the discovery
caused a sensation among members Of
the medical profession, who were some
what skeptical then, but subsequent in
dependent Investigations made by them
into the matter confirmed DR.. Stiles
diagnosis.
The "hookworm" disease prevails quito
generally in European countries, cSpG-
Ciaty among miners and those who come
Ia contact with the damp earth, luvesti-
cations conducted in the south by DR..
Stiles showed that the disease had eX-
listed there for long time, but it's pres
ence was not recognized by physicians,
For n number Of years DIR. Stiles has
devoted practically all of his time to In.
designations of the disease of the south
The results of his work have been graph
ically told in special bulletins written
by him and issued by the marine hospital
service.
His disclosures regarding the existence
and widespread prevalence Of the NAL
ady, particularly in the mountain dis
.tricts of North Carolina and other
states, have attracted unusual attention.
The Lazy Germ.
The disease is produced by minute
worm which enters the body from in
fected places through tho skin. 1t is
sometimes referred to as the lazy
germ" Dr. Stiles named the disease
"uncinairasis Americana meaning the
American type Of the hookworm disease.
His studies showed that the disease
affects the poorer classes, especially
those who till the soil and others who
work in and around cotton mills. The
disease produces in persons affected with
1t profound anemia, and renders them
incapable of performing work which re-
nuires any grpat eXertlOn.