The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-01-08
Rural schools and Hookworm.

That hookwor disease is respon-
sible for lack of progress in many
country schools that 1t can be eradi-
Gated, and that the rural schools are
now taking the lead in the movement
to destroy this and other handicaps
to good health, are some of the con-
illusions of bulletin by DR.. John A.
Terrell on Rural School and Hook
worm Disease" just issued for free
distribution by the United States
Bureau of Education.
"Hookworm disease is one of the
most prevalent, most insidiously
/ harmful. and most completely pre-
ventable diseases known to man."
declares DR.. Terrell. at causes hui
man suffering and economic waste
altogether out of proportion to its
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. Its eradication is one
of the most important and pressing
problems before the people of the
southern half of the United States
and of other semitropical lands.
"In combating hookworm disease
it has been found that the rural
school is the greatest medium for
the spread of the infection and the
most important protective agency
against It, In some schools investi-
gated the infection 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 infec-
ton among rural children of the
school age for whole counties run
ming as high as 20 to 80 per cent,
while in some sections of Virginia,
Kentucky. North Carolina. Tennes-
see. Arkansas. and other States the
disease is less widespread. with 10
per cent or less of the school popu-
lation infected with hookworms.
The general average for all the chill
dren examined to date is 40 per
cent of infection.
at 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 supervision, health instruc-
ton. and perfect sanitation. The
rural school can aid in health super
vision it can supplement and drive
home health instruction, and above
all 1t can teach good health and
clean living by being itself a model
OF sanitation for the community. No
matter 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 meas
ures for good health, permanent con-
troll of hookworm or any other dis
ease transmitted by soil pollution |
will be impossible.
"Hookworm disease, like typhoid |
fever, is due to careless disposal of |
human excreta. Once schools and |
dwellings in country districts are
provided with sanitary privies of
one type or another, there will be
little danger from hookworm.
"A study of the hokworm prob
lem has shown not only the need for
sanitary privies, but the need for
more adequate sanitary supervision
by competent medical officers. There
should be in every community a ca
pable superintendent of health. de-
voting his whole time to public
health work.
Frequent and systematic instruc-
tion by the public schools in the ele-
ments of personal and community
hygiene is necessary for permanent
control of disease. When the citi-
Gems of community are taught from
early childhood the necessity for the
care of health. they will need no urg-
ing to provide expert health super
vision and sanitary privies in every
community.
1.-THE campaign against hookworm
disease is a campaign Of education.
and it is right that it should be wag-
ed i'm the public schools"