The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1912-06-14
|HOOKWORM DISEASE
IS A REAL MENACE
Various Stages OF Infection Show
How The Way Is Paved For
The Most Serious OF
Ailments.


sease has made insidinus strides IN
the tropical and semi tropical zones
OF the world, and the stamping out OF
tho disease Ia southern Europe, d.
well as In our Southern states has De-
come serious problem. Rural life Is
a predisposing cause OF ilDokworm oi'
seasef because OF poor sanitary condi.
tlons around the home and school
house. The people OF small towns
are often heavily Infected FOR the
same reason. The disease Ia found
during any period OF life in both sexes
and among all classes. 1t Is absent
wherever the sanitary arrangements
are such as to prevent its spread.
This disease is caused BY a small
round worm which measures about a
halfaa inch In length and has the
diameter OF an ordinary hairpin. IL
enters the human body in a stage at
which 1t Is invisible to the naked eye,
usually through the skin, but 1t may
enter through the mouth. The eggs
OF the hookworm are laid 10 the in
testine OF the human being aud on
passing from the body they hatch 10
twenty four to forty eight hours whom
the conditions OF moisture. soil and
temperature are favorable.
EASY TO INFECT.
When people live under poor sani'
tary conditions these young worms
are found 10 the soil. A barefo0ted
boy or girl walking over such polluted
or infected soil may contract the d.
cease. Tho small unseen larvae oil
the worm work their way through
the skin in about thirty minutes and
on gaining access to the blood past
through the tNdy finally reaching the
bowel and here IL grows and reaches
maturity. This parasite becomes at
tached to the lining Of the bowel ano
sucks blood aud also secretes = poison
which is absorbed by the body
The initial symptom Of hookworm
disease is ground Itch The SYN
toms following will depend upon the
number Of worms present and the
strength OF the individual" The
number OF hookworms 10 a person in
fected vary from one or two to severa
thousand They do NOT multiply IL
the body. ss
SOME SYMPTOMS.
In mild case, OF hookworm disease
there may be no physical changes IL
the person showing The presence oil
the disease and-shere also may be nc
special symptoms. The person Took
more or less healthy, may have a Root
color, is well developed, etc. How
ever In many OF the mild cases, thu
person suffers regularly from indiges
tion or dyspepsia, may have head
aches, heart. burn, Gains 10 the stom
ach. poor appetite and general bat
fesliug.
Ia case little more severe, In
person looks a little pale, the skin Il
rather cloudy and the indiyIdua
often suffers from the above men
toned symptoms 10 a more agra
waited form. Where the case 10 SO
we're; the person infected 10 marked!
pale, due to the loss OF blood, Otter
sallow. face pulled, puorly developed
body showing impairment 10 growth
there is often undue weakness. dizzi
ness. Indigestion, shortness OF breath
and even palpitation OF the heart
The appetite with some Is poor ant
| in OF her cases is ravenOus. Tire per
son looks puny and is incapable o
much work.
In very severe case OF hOOkworn
disease, the person is extremely pale
sallow, stunted in growth, drOpsical
and suffers greatly from weakness
The mental and physical capacity Il
greatly dwarfed. The person als'
has headaches, dizziness, great short
ness Of breath, severe palpitatlon o
the heart, pains 10 tho stomach
heartburn and often perverted appe
lite for such things as clay, etc. Thes'
have been known as "clay eaters.
1t does not require that . person
have all these symptoms to be infect
ed with this disease. The important
point is that any person who ha'
hookworm disease Is more or less ply
sically and mentally incapacitated.
DISEASE PREVALENT.
There Is no doubt whatever about
the fact that hookworm disease II
very prevalent 10 many counties Of ou
state, hundreds aud thousands OF peo
pie are infected with the malady and
It Is preparing the way for other ant
more serious diseases. The people II
Mississippi are being given every op
portunity TO be examined and treated
for this condition.
1t Is important and no one should
lose the chance who 10 the sliRhtesl
degree suspects the existence Of the
disease to find out whether or not HI
has It, The state board OF health
will make examination free provided
q specimen is sent 10 the labratory al
Jackson, Mississippi. The persor
will be notified conndentIally and u
found infected, BY taking from thres
to i've treatments, as a rule, q cure II