The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-06-19

ficted with it has created a general
demand for information upon the sub
ject. DR.. Claude A. Smith, of Atlanta,
who is brother of DIR. c. l.. Smith of
Pensacola, has made very exhaustive
study of the hookworm and from an
article by him recently printed by the
journal of the American Medical AS
ISOLATION. the following interesting
facts are learned;
This disease is found in the noun
tains as well as the lowlands, but is
more common the farther south you
60, as the conditions for the produc-
ton and development of the larvae are
more favorable.
The disease Is very common in re-
gions where the chances of contami-
nation of the drinking water with sur
face drainage is very slight. The dis
ease may occur at any age from three
years to fifty years but is most COM
monty found in children. 1t IS more
common In males than in females and
is usually found in children of the
lower classes but many cases are
found among the better class. 1t ap-
pears to be more frequent among the
whites than the negroes. 1t is dis
ease of the country, and the possibility
of its presence should be considered
in all patients who give a history of
having resided in the country or small
villages within seven or eight years.
IL prevails where unsanitary condi-
tions abound. The eggs are Matched
in damp earth and the presence of air
is necessary and the time required is
from twelve to twenty-four hours, ue-
pending on the temperature and
moisture; too much moisture inhibit-
A.. IL n
stroyed by freezing as also by drying,
but they must be thoroughly dry, the
least of moisture preserving them. In
Matching, the tail of the larvae
Rmerges first.
Sluggish at First.
For the first day or so the larvae is
rather sluggish but as the first sheath
appears it becomes more energetic
and Is extremely lively at times. If
IN water alone it wriggles at a lively
rate, but does not make much head
way, but If embedded in earth CT sand,
where 1t can obtain a sfoothold, so to
speak, by sinuous motion it darts
through sand at a lively rate. These
periods of activity are of variable du-
ration. The larvae will move quite
lively for a few minutes to half an
hour or more and then it will straight
en- out and lie perfectly still for a cor
responding length of time.
It should be remembered that soil
which to the naked eye appears per-
fectly dry will, on examination with
the microscope, be found to contain a
small amount of moisture and such
amount as Is sufficient to preserve the
vitality of the larvae. But if they do
become dry thoroughly If for only a
moment they can not be revived.
knowledge of the conditions under
which these larvae exist are of great
value in determining when and how
the disease may be contracted.
When we remember that it freezes
every winter throughout the south
down through the northern part OF
Florida We can easily see that the
disease could not be contracted in the
winter; also as drying destroys the
larvae, their existence is a very pre-
carious one. However. during the
warm summer months. when there is
a rainy spell, the ideal conditions pre-
vail for the development of the larvae
so this Is the time at which we would
be most likely to encounter them.
Entrance Through Feet.
After a careful observation and in
vestigation of the habits of The larvae
it is found that in the great majority
of cases they gain entrance through
the skin of the feet, and that the true
ground itch is simply the manifesto
ton of this passage.
Ground itch is the most common
disease in the south and the majority
of cases are never carried to the ply
stefan, but are treated with home
remedies. 1t appears in the summer
an dalways as a result of going bare
foot in wet weather In many sections
of the south it is thought to be the re
suit of being poisoned by the dew but
is always contracted at the time when
the ground is damp which is the con
dition most favorable to the develop
ment of the larvae of the uucinaria
In some districts they take great pains
TO try to keep the children indoors
during rainy weather and especially
when it rains several days, so as tC
prevent them from having the GROUND
stch. Children are fond of wading in
bitches after a rain and It is a com
anon belief among them that the foam
collected along the sides of the bitches
contained the poison" and that they
would be sure of an attack from
wadi1g in the foam.
Symptoms Of Ground Itch.
The first symptoms of ground itct
Is an itching between the toes. which
begins after going barefoot in the
mud. 1t may occur at one place be
tween two toes or it may appear be
tween all the toes, and also unde1
them and some cases may extend III
some distance on the foot. This itch
ing increases and the skin become!
very red and finally small blisters @,
vesicles are found. The itching con
tinues and the vesicles are usual,
y ruptured. leaving a raw weeping sur
face. The itching is generally ex
cruciating and the condition may las
two, three, four or more weeks. A few
of the uncinaria may produce no ap
parent effect on a child but it no doub
renders the child more susceptible t
infection as a result of the interior
ence with the nutrition. Severe infeC
lions produce various grades O