The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-19
SCHOOLS AND HOOKwORNl.

SCHAJOlkS AND H0JOMW OktA.
That hookworm disease is RESPONSE
bic for lack Of progress in many coun-
try schools; that it can be eradicated.
and that the rural schools are now TAX
ing the lead in the movement to de-
stroy this and other handicaps to good
health, are some Of the conclusions OF
a bulletin by DR.. John A. Terrell on
Rural School and Hookworm Disease"
just issued for free distribution by the
United States Bureau of Education.
"Hookworm disease IL one Of the most
prevalent. most insidiously harmful,
and most completely preventable dis
eases known to man." declares DIR. Fer
rell. 1T causes human suffering and
economic waste altogether out OF pro-
portion to it's apparent death rate.
Many ills that have been attributed to
mental and moral weakness OF whole
bodies Of people are now definitely
known to be due to this infection. and
durable with its cure. It's eradication
is one Of the most important and press
ing problems before the people Of the
southern half OF the United States and
of other semitropical lands.
I'm combating hookworm disease it
has been found that the rural school
the infection and the most important pro-
tective agency against it. In some schools
Investigated the injection has been found
to be 100 per cent-the teacher and every
pupil a victim Of the disease. Records
Of the International Health commission
show an average infection among rural
children of school age for whole coun-
ties running as high as 70 to 80 per
cert. while in some sections of Vir-
ginia. Kentucky, North Carolina. Ten
nessee, Arkansas, and other states the
disease is less widespread, with 10 per
cent or less Of the school population
infected with hookworms. The general
average for all the children examined
to date is 40 per cent Of infection.
TT is through the rural school,
whence the infection comes, that the
remedy must also come. The measures
necessary for permanent control OF
hookworm disease are health supervi-
sion, health instruction, and perfect
sanitation. The rural school can aid in
health supervision; it can supplement
and drive home health instruction. and
above all it can teach good health and
clean living by being itself a model of
sanitation for the community. No mat
ter how energetic a national or state
campaign for eradication may be; no
matter how many cases of hookworm
disease are cured for the time being,
unless the school and the community
maintain a constant vigilance in behalf
of positive measures for good health,
permanent control of hookworm or any
other disease transmitted by soil pol
luton will be impossible.
''Hookworm disease, like typhoid
fever, is due to careless disposal of
human excreta. Once schools and
dwellings in country districts are pro-
vided with sanitary privies of one type
or another, there will be little danger
from hookworm.
"A study of the hookworm problem
has shown not only the need for SAM
tary privies. but the need for more ade-
Quate sanitary supervision by competent
medical officers. There should be in
every community a capable superinten-
dent of health, devoting his whole time
to public health work.
Frequent and systematic instruction
by the public schools in the elements
of personal and community hygiene is
necessary for permanent control of dis
ease. When the citizens of a commu-
nifty are taught from early childhood
the necessity for the care Of health,
they will need no urging to provide
expert health supervision and sanitary
privies in every community.
The campaign against hookworm
disease is a campaign of education, and
it is right that it should be waged in
the DuhIic schools,