The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-04-02
Six Persons Found
With Hook Worms

Probably never before has case of
hOok-Worm been discovered this far
north, but there is a family of six
living near Freewater on the inter-
urban line which is now suffering with
this dreaded disease. Owing to the
sandy condition of the soil in and
around Milton and Freewater it is
possible that the neighboring inhabi-
tants will fall a victim to the ravages
of the disease which John D. Rookie
Teller has donated one million dollars
to stamp out of the SOUTH
DR.. Edwin Montgomery, of this city,
has the cases well in hand though he
realizes that great precaution will
have to be taken to prevent the spread
of the disease. If the contagion once
gets into the soil it would be almost
impossible to prevent it spreading to
other persons until next winter when
the severe cold would in all proba-
bility kill the dreaded plague
DIR. Montgomery refuses to make
known the name of the family suffer-
ing with the disease but after care
full consideration has arrived at the
conclusion that there is no mistake
and that the hook worm tas invaded
the Walla Walla valley,
Came From Tennessee.
The family originally came from
vile. About two years ago they NOV
ed to Oklahoma and last fall moved
to Weston, Or, coming to the ranch
on which they now live about six
weeks ago. DR.. Montgomery is inclin-
ed to believe that they contracted the
disease while living in the south and
have brought it north with them.
This belief was also strengthened con-
siderably when the father of the fam
1lyy RI f0I
entire family had, while living in the
south what is commonly known as
ground itch" 1t is believed by many
who have studied the disease that
the germ enters through the pores of
the feet first.
DR.. Montgomery was making pro-
fessional calls in the neighborhood of
FreeWater Monday when the father of
the family called to him as he passed
by the house, to come in and look at
his ten year old son. The boy was
called in from play and DR.. Montgom-
cry said as soon as he saw the child
1T flashed through his mind that he
was victim of hook-worm as he
had all the symptoms, dropping
shoulders, a blank or CLASSY stare. puff
fed face and what is known to the
medical profession as "buttermilk or
pot belly"
Made Careful Test.
1t was impossible for the physician
to determine that it was hook-worm
the lad was suffering from until he
made tests in his office Thursday
DR.. Montgomery was not sure of the
disease and would not consent to it
being made public but yesterday he
completed his examination which con-
frmed his first impression. With the
aid of powerful lens it was easy to
detect the little parasite known as
unclnariasis or hook worm eggs
The remainder of the F'reewater fam
lily have at one time or other com
pla1ned of a liStless feeling while their
feet have become swollen at times. Dr.
Montgomery has put all six members
of the family under his care and is
treating them daily. DIR. montgomery,
when the disease was first dicovered
in the south took particular interest
in it and has followed the discussion
of scientists on the subject
In an interview given out yester-
day afternoon DR.. Montgomery said:
Entire Family Affected.
My tests show that the entire fam
lily is infected with the disease but
fortunately a cure was found soon af-
ter the discovery of the disease. One
child in the family is a typical picture
of one with hook worms On inquiry
into his past I find that he had for
number of years been showing symp-
toms of this disease. His father tells
me that they all feel listless. and
seem to lack energy Of late years and
that while living in Tennessee they
had what is commonly known in rural
sections as the ground itch These
germs infect the ground and when