The Washington herald., 1917-10-08
That Hookworm, Again.

Get the hook-for the hookworm!
Now that the tired Representatives
and Senators have just survived the
strain of trying to get men into train
ing camps, and refused to interfere
with exemption matters, and now
that constant racing to the War De-
partment seems aDout to be stopped
by orders that neither political nor Of
ficial influence shall count in the con-
duct of the army's internal affairs, a
new activity looms up on the horizon.
Mothers are beginning to write in
to their Representatives asking them
to be sure and see that their sons
are not sent to hideous camps where
they are likely to get the kookworm
or let the hookworn get them. per-
haps it would be better to say.
The Congressional members are arxi-
GUS to do their duty. but never sus-
pecting that the anxious mothers had
anything to fear have actually been
apprised that hookworm does exist.
A chap by the name of C. Wardell
stiles. zoologist in the public
health service employ, today laid in
formation before most members show
ing that a recent examination Of his
revealed the presence Of this undes-
iIdUle uiSedSe.
Several steps for the eradication Of
the disease are suggested by DR..
stiles. He says that men suspected of
having the disease should be treated
here-and not sent to Europe until
they are free of it. Further the doc
tor says 1t would be wise to begin
immediate training of men and
women to specially fight the disease
And he also urges the frequent exam
ination of men, when they appear
tired and worn out, to see whether
they are afflicted with this worm. He
points out that attention to prevent
ing the disease should be the first order
Of the day, and that there should
be no delay about 1t, either.
Pension Statistics.
When lawmakers are thinking of
passing an insurance bill to supplant
the pension system for compensatinr
soldiers who fought in the war, and
the dependents of those who fought
but did not return. statistics with ref
erence to the civil and Spanish-Amer-
ican wars are Of interest.
Commissioner Saltzgaber has this
Information in handy shape. He
shows that the pensions paid for the
fiscal year ending June 30 aggregated
s1so,00o,o 900, and that the total cost Of
administering pension affairs Of the
government cost s., ,563, 600.
The largest number of civil war
soldiers on the pension rolls was in
1895, when 745,S22 of the old boys were
drawing their money from the govern
ment. The largest widow enrolment
T. cote 2lA l72
according to these reports.
On June 30 of this year there were
widows Of the War of 1872 to the num-
ber of 100 still on the pension rolls,
surprisingly. but no veterans Of that
conflict.
OF the Mexican war there were Ssi
survivors and 1922 widows on the
rolls. OF Spanish-American war vet
Grams on the rolls this year there
were 2S,27 at the time the pension re-
port was made.
The magnitude of the work at the
Pension Office may be seen from the
fact that nearly 1000 employees are
busy In this department, and that
mail came into the office at the aver
age rate of almost 1000 pieces daily,
while the office output was more than
lZ,UV pieces ualiy.
Socialists Gain.
For the life Of them some of the
members of Congress cannot see why
the Socialists are bending their ears
to catch sounds of harmony from
other minor party camps where "con-
solidation" talk Is heard. For the
belief Of Congressman in-and it is
backed by warning letters numerous
Democratic leaders have received
from their lieutenants back home
that the Socialists are gaining per-
ceptibly in strength.
There is a belief prevalent among
other members on the hill, however.
that the Socialists have only one
thing In mind. IL they are listening to
such political talk. And that one
thing. the knowing ones say, is the
union of all Of these minor parties in
the name Of Socialism.
II that Is brought about. of course,
the Congressional members do not
blame the Socialists for condescend-
Ing to treat amicably with their