The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-23

Rev. Dr. Landrum Of Louisville and Dr. Harris and MT Robert Lowry of Atlanta.
 Summary.
 To sum up in a few words the in- formation brought out at this meet ing:
 The disease known as hookworm dis- ease was probably brought to this coun- try by the slaves from the west coast of Africa. It has been allowed to continue it's ravages unrecognized and unhindered for years and years until at the pres ent time the soil throughout the south ern states. especially is polluted to such an extent that in some localities as high as 90 per cent of the population are in- fected. These communities of highest infection occur in the more crowded ag- gregations of humanity, where poverty and ignorance make against hygienic surroundings. A high percentage of in- factions occurs also in the low, sandy regions and in the mountains; the clay soils are not so favorable to the par asite.
 occurred by way of the mouth (dirt eat CTS, eating with soiled hands, etc). but Dr. Claude Smith of Atlanta showed con- clusively that the microscopic worm also entered by way of the skin, and 1t has since been proven that infection by the mouth is exceedingly rare, or much more rare at least than was formerly thought. The dirt eaters" may add to an already existing infection in this way. but the dirt eating, per SC, is more symptom of the disease than the primary cause of it. It would seem that there is hero a reversion and that the brute instinct calls for some unusual substance in the alimentary canal to help dislodge tho worms You have noticed e. g., young | puppies, which are very frequently af- fected with some species of intestinal parasite (most usually ascaris mystax) losing their appetite. sometimes eating grass to make them vomit. and eating bits of rock coal, chewing up and swal- lowing buttons, etc. It is the same thing with the dirt eater. He simply follows natures promptings. and eats dirt, chalk. slate pencils, etc, to aid in ridding him- self of the little devil that is gnawing i at his vitals, though there Is, Of course, no conscious reasoning to that end.
 Ground itch Is the most frequent and earliest symptom of hoowdorm disease The worm, in It's passage through the skin, sets up an irritation, either me- chanically or by some poison generated by itself or what Is more likely. by combination of both, and d group of large or small water blisters" are formed. Tho microscopic worm is soon taken up by the blood stream and carried to the right side of the heart. thence 10 the lungs, and penetrating the gossamer membrane which separates the blood from the alr in the little air sacs of the lung, soon reaches the bronchial tubes. then the lower part of the throat, and so to the intestinal canal. Having reached the mid dle and lower portions or the small in- testine it attaches itself to the mucous membrane which 1t lac.rates with it's teeth, and the minute hemorrhage begins The worm Is voracious feeder and profiigate with his food. Sometimes tho blood cells pass through the worm almost unchanged. but 1t Is lost to the host. just the same. Soon the female worm reaches the adult stage. and begins to lay enormous quantities of eggs, which are passed out with the feces-to pollute the soil if opportunity presents. And right here is one question whicn the confer ence must handle. pr. Stiles. in his extensive researches throughout the rural south, says that 80 per cent of the negroes have no closets at all and that about ae per cent of the farm houses of the whites arc but little better. Hogs and poultry are the scavengers.
 But to continue: The egg. having been deposited in the soil, needs certain
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