AN INSIDIOUS PARASITE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 24, 23 October 1917, Page 8

AN INSIDIOUS PARASITE

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT HOOKWORM. A representative of the International Health Board connected with the Rockefeller Foundation, Dr. J. H. Waite, has been engaged for tho past three months in investigating Ankylostomiasis in Papua. This is a disease -which is commonly known as the hookworm disease, bo called because of the fact that tho neck of tho worm is bent in.the 6hape of a hook. "The hookworm claims more sufferers than, any other, single diseaso in the world," said Dr. Waite to a representative of the "Sydney Morning Herald" recently. "It is duo to tho preaenco of a small blood-sucking, blood-de-stroying parasite in tli3 intestines. Each norm is calculated to destroy one drop of blood in a day, and in infections where there are soveral thousand warms it is obvious that tho quantity of blood destroyed daily is tremendous. This daily loss of blood in adults causes intense anaemia and emaciation, so that tho power of resislanco to other diseases is greatly lessened. In childron this constant loss of blood prevents tho growth of their bodies and the development of their minds—a handicap that is not overoomo even after the worms have been removed. No other disease in tho world is responsible for such economic loss, having regard to tho 6ickness and impaired efficiency of tho children of to-day and of. to-morrow.

"With regard to the life and distribuf ion of the hookworm, 1 may state that one infected person is responsible for the liberation of i,000.000 eggs daily. Tropical and sub-tropical distribution depends upon the fact that the egg 6 require considerable heat for hatching. These eggs resist freezing and clicniic-als, but are hatched out in 24 hours by Ihe heat of the sun. The larvae, whicn can live for 300 days iu the soil without feeding, lie in wait for the bare skin of the new host, which is duly penetrated. Within the body the worm can live for from six to ten years. It attaches itself to tho lining of the. intestine by means of. four teeth injects a biological snbstancc, which prevents the clotting of blood, and lives there from day to day during the period of its life, sucking blood all the time.

"What aro the symptoms of hookworm ?" said Dr. Waite. And he proceeded to answer the question. "The continual loss of .blood to the worms produces an impoverishment of the system, whether it be m'ild or 6evcre depending upon the number of worms aucl the amount of poison injected. Attendant upon this anemia one finds emaciation, or dropsy, or deranged appetite, and in very serious cases dirt-eating. In the case of children, the symptoms I have mentioned aro accompanied by retarded growth and backwardness in school. Another of the symtoms is laziness."

It is gratifying to know, however, lh.it it is easily cured by the use of tho oil of chenpodinni. "Like all other intestinal diseases, such as typhoid l'ever, cholera, dysentery, and gastro-enteritis, vhicil sie spread about through soil pollution," Dr. Waits adcTed, "tho control of hookworm disease consists in tho proper uso of latrines and efficient sanitary control. The germs causing nil llieso other intestinal diseases enter the. bpdy by tho mouth, through the medium of food or drink, but in the case of hookworm they may enter through the skin as well." Tho chief function of the International Health Board of the Rockefeller Foundation is to demonstrate to the people of an infected community tho necessity of using sanitary latrines for the prevention of all intestinal diseases. On June 1 last work was begun in Papua, and it was ascertained that 65 per cent, of tho natives waking on plantations wevo infected, while S per cent, of the natives in villages showed infection. It was only found in' adult males; and as women and children were free from it, it is supposed that the disease was introduced on to the plantations through the agency of white men from Queensland, where the disease is known to be fairly widespread. From the plantations the diseaso is being spread over all parts of the territory by tho native labourers as they _ return to jthe villages after ; completing the term of their indenture. Unless steps be taken to control it Dr. Waite is of .opinion that the.lower rate of infestation in the villages will be raised in a few years to tho higher rate shown on the plantations. Dr. Waite pointed out that the disease could bo eradicated completely at a relatively small cost under the present conditions; while, if it were allowed to spread until the incidence in the villages became as high as that 111 the plantations, a more formidable task would present itself. The spread-would be rapid, and for this reason he strongly advocated a vigorous prosecution of the present campaign. "Tho International Health Board," he eaid in conclusion, "has made an offer to the Governments of Queensland and Mew South Wales, in which it agrees to conduct a hookworm eradication campaign *in infected districts, provided these States furnish one-third of the total cost. Tho disease has been repeatedly demonstrated in Queensland, the first case having been reported on by Dr. Hogg. The Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine treats each year about 100 severe eases in its hospital. For the first quarter of this year there were 33 cases, with two deaths, in Queensland; which is the only one of the Australian States where tho disease is a notifiable one. It should, in my opinion, be made a notifiable one in nil the States."