Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1914-03-17
WILL RID SUMTER OF
HOOK WORM DISEASE
DR.. C. r. HENRY, STATE HEALTH
AGENT, WILL EXAMINE SCHOOL
CHILDREN AND GROWN-UPS-
TREATMENT FREE

under the auspices of the state health
department, will be in Sumter county
flor the next six weeks waging fight
on the hook worm. DR.. Henry will
make a thorough investigation of ev-
cry school child in the county and Of
as many adults as wish it. The exam
nation and treatment will be free.
The following article from DR.. Hen
ry throws some light on the subject;
Hooks worm disease was descr:b
ed centuries ago, under various
names. People who came in init
mate contact with the soil-such IS
miners and brick-makers, were es-
pecially susceptible to the ravages
OF this parasite. A notable instance
was in this digging Of the st. Goth
ard tunnel in France, 1898. The
workmen suffered from intense an
emia or paliness. After finding out
the true nature of this malady prop
er steps were taken to eradicate this
infection, the fundamental principle
being proper sanitary precautions.
This disease is probably as old as
history ITSELF and the infection IS
distributed over a wide area, circling
the globe the width or Sc degrees, SO
north and 80 south.
Tropical and sub tropical countries
suffer especially from the rayages
OF this parasite-the moist warm,
often sandy soil Offering favorable
home for the development of it.
This disease is no respector of
persons, and attacks all classes OF
people, young and old-who come in
Intimate contact with the polluted
soil
This is essentially a disease Of
soil pollution arising from the fear
full unsanitary conditions that are
found in some parts of our country.
The percentage of infection is not
nearly so high in cities and towns
with a sewerage system and paved
streets, for the simple reason that
the infected excrement is carried
away and destroyed, and is not al
lowed to be washed by the warm
rains over the surrounding country
tc thoroughly infect the soil.
One person on a farm or in a
school, suffering from this disease
may infect the whole community.
The Porto Rican Anemia commits
sion has reported treating 100000
cases and that 80 per cent. of the
mountain people are infected. Peo-
pie supposed the paleness was due to
the eating Of fruits in varying de-
grees of decomposition, and also to
the moisture laden climate.
This commission established field
hospitals for the free treatment OF
this disease and the people re,
: sponded wonderfully, coming in by
all kinds of conveyances, some On
foot and others carried by their
friends on litters. The mountain
people of Porto Rico had suffered
for generations from the ravages of
this parasite. The large coffee
plantations were hot-beds of infec-
tion-the people all suffering more
or less from "mazamorra" or the
ground itch"
The department of field sanitation,
Georgia State Board of Health, is
now making an aggressive compaign
, against this disease, the free dispea-
saries having been opened in Novem-
bsr, 1911, in Georgia. Since then thous
ands Of individuals have been freed
from the bondage of this enslaving
parasite and are becoming valuable
assets instead of liabilities.
The effects of this campaign are,
Extraordinarily removal of the
parasite, and second-educatio
the teaching of proper sanitary pre-
cautions. This campaign lays spec
ial stress on the building of the san
Iifor,~ errfooa olOen+