The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-07-16
HQOKWORM is FOUND IN
FIFTY-FIVE COUNTIE
The Practical Side of Elimination Consists of Efforts
To Inform the People So They Can Give Them
selves the Proper Treatment.

llDu Oh the Injected states IN TINS
country is about %, 900, 900. Together
earth's estimated population Of l.
600. 900. 900.
The degree Of infection is heaviest
in American Samoa, where it is found
in 20 per cent Of the populations; in
the southern tWo-thirds of China, in
- per cent Of the populations; in In
dia. from 60 to 80 per cen Of the
300, 900, 900 population ave the dis
ease; in Ceylon. 80 per cent in many
parts; in Natal, so per cen of the
coolies on sugar and tea estates; in
Egypt, 80 per cent of the labOrlng
class; in Dutch Guiana 80 per cent in
many parts; in British Guiana, 80
per cent of those living between sea
level and 5000 feet, which includes
most Of the population; in 1904. 90
per cent of the working population
Of Porto Rico was infected.
Heavy Economic Loss.
The economic loss from the disease
is enormous. 4 physically sound cOf-
fee picker in Porto Rico picks 500 or
600 measures a day; the anaemic
picker averages from 100 to $50
measures. The disease has lowered
the average labor efficiency Of the
island to 80 to 50 per cent of the nor
mai. DR.. Herber Gum, special in
spector for the California Board Of
Health, states that a 20 per cent loss
Of efficiency in the mines is a conser-
yatiNe estimate of the actual results
Of the disease in that State. Esti-
mating the infection to be present in
80 per cent Of the minors, he believes
that a mine employing 800 men would
sustain a loss Of $4,000 annually.
Taking this as a basis, the question is
very pertinent as to what is the an
nual money loss in India, with a 70
per cent Infection.
1T is sometimes maintained that
an acute disease may strengthen a
race by removing the weak, but hook
worm disease is characterized by it's
chronicity. 1t works subtly through
long periods Of time and its Cumula-
tive effects-physical, economic. in
tellectual and moral-ara handed
down as an increasing handicap from
generation to generation. What the
disease has done for India, Egypt and
China it is now beginning to do for
the United States. It is a menace
and an obstacle to all that makes for
ficiency and social development or
the one hand, as it undermines ply
steal and mental health on the other.
Important Factor.
AN important factor in the spread
Of the hookworm disease in the Unit
ed states is immigration. Every
country which. imports coolie laborers
from India is bringing in a steady
stream Of heavy Infection. OF SOC
coolies going into Assam. only one
was free from Infection. The atten-
ton Of the government at Durham
was called in 1908 to the heavy in
lection among coolies on the sugar
estates Of Natal. The next shiploaG
from India was examined and 90 pei
t cent was found infected. Last yeal
at San Francisco a shipload Of IndiaI
} coolies had 80 per cent infected
. Quarantine was established at once
against further immigration OF THU
type. Every group OF indian coolies
in California is a center from which
the infection is spreading in tina
: State.
THE results OF the survey shov
plainly that hookworm disease is no
? a local affection or of merely 0
, concern. It is Of International signih
canoe, and the measures directed to
, ward it's complete eradication mus
!. be international in scope"