The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette., 1911-06-17
The Prevalence of HOOkwOrm.

TyHE EVIDENCE brought to light by the sys-
tematic campaign against the hookworm
during the past year, proves that the pest is
more generally prevalent than was even at first
suspected Recently examinations were made of
several hundred boys in State educational insti-
tuition in one of the States in our territory and
Al per cent of these boys were found infected
with hookworms. These boys came from the
families of prosperous farmers, merchants and
less prosperous people. They also from re-
gons of clay, sandy and bottom lands, and yet
Il per cent of all those examined were infected
The extent of injury done is variable, being
trivial in some cases and serious in others, but
in all cases their presence can not be regarded as
otherwise than undesirable and menace to the
health of the individual.
These facts show that those who early recog-
nzed the true facts and their serious nature as re-
lated to the public health and material welfare of
the South, instead of being cranks, faddists and
sanderers OF our section were really the wise and
true friends of our people, 1t also shows the ridi-
culous position of those who tried to make joke
out OF this serious condition, as many did, the
newspapers being often the worst sinners in this
1t also shows that the old fogy doctors can
not under the claim of conservatism, be accepted
as sale teachers in matters of modern hygiene.
Just recently this paper, which one of the
hrst IN the Southeto recognize the true conditions
10 which this parasite had reduced many of our
people in certain districts and to point out
euy' received really pathetic letter from in
tellgent school teacher, in which he almost proved
10 our satisfaction that he had hookworm, and
!eC lie was unable to get even an examination
fom his local doctor. He stated that his doctor
Iiulcule and jest. Fortunately the number of
niS class of physicians is small and they only
uelay or impede the campaign against the hook
worm in few individual cases.
DuC perhaps the most silly and inexcusable form
VI stupidity which this hookworm crusade has
oe'eoped, has manifested itself among class
VI people who call themselves true Southerners
anu VINO are always too ready to resent anything
"nich their dwarfed minds distort into reflection
n Ihe people or ''slander' of the South. They
eaii themselves patriots, but they are in reality
.ne worst enemies the South has to-day The
~ ue friends OF the South, in any country,
e men and women who early recognize her diff
es ana her problems, and when disagreeable
onr, Cunate conditions are found, give their
eieS and their talents to their correction.
A., no renection on the South, nor any in
49, Uudl mat he has hookworm, but it will be
ienecton on us if now, that we have been
corro. 'ne true conditions, we fail to meet and
bvt them Let us be done with this silly
asper-sensitiveness but recognizing our problems
No % ouI ulfhculties use every available resource,
NJ '1er whence it comes to their correction
lase conditions, although regrettable, need not
attoos oul state pride or make us any the less
raots 70 this beautiful Southland, but their cor
trna -. VII y give US more and better reason for