THE HOOKWORM.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17221, 11 August 1921, Page 3

THE HOOKWORM.

HISTORY AND HABITS. What is the hookworm? The question is suggested by a number of references to the tropical parasite in the cables from Australia, indicating that it has now been traced in the cooler regions of northern New South Wales. Tho hookworm is a Bmall worm about half an inch long that pierces the skin and attaches itself to the mucous membrane of the lower . portion of the bowels. This parasite, which has caused much of the anaemia and debility peculiar to children in the tropics, travels a good way through the human system before it filially settles down to its work. It enters tho tissue under the skin, travels to the lymphatics, and thence to tho lungs. Its fife has many sporting chances, for it has to wait until it is coughed from the lungs into the pharynx, whence it continues its journey to tho stomach, and finallv to the intestines." Originally known as tho tunnel worm, it was first made known to science in 1838, in Milan, Italy. Later it was found in the Cornish tin mines, in the mines of Westphalia, and in the St. Gothard tunnel, in the Alps, where numerous cases of anaemia among the workmen were traced to it. The ] tropical variety of hookworm is found in territorv lying between latitude 51 month and 31 south, or where the character and hydraulic conditions of the soil and the "habits of the population favour its production. .Hitherto it has not been officially traced, to New although it has been suggested that it may be present in the mining regions of the West Coast. In,the beginning of lylß, the Rockefeller Institute (U.S.A.), sent two doctors to North Queensland to report upon the effects of the hookworm there. They found, on examination of the facta submitted to them, that 95 per cent, of the natives, and 15 per cent, of the white population in the tropics, were affected. The areas of infection were determined by the amount of rain- ! fall. Where the annual rainfall was high, control measures became difficult. The debility of the children was found to _be most marked, youths of sixteen being discovered with the vitality bf children of ten. The assistance of the local authorities and the Government was solicited, and an expansive campaign entered on, with the object of preventing the pollution of the soil. The towns of Cairns, about lafc. 10, south, was the scene of the first hookworm campaign in Australia three years ago. Tho white population in the" district was about 25.000, and the 'investigators had a verv difficult task in persuading the people to submit speci- ' mens of the "stool." This'barrier was in time overcome by the issue to all householders of literature, that, established the presence and serious ravages of the hookworm parasite. Infected persons were treated,' with ' the result that an examination of the same per--teons, eighteen months . afterwards, showed /that the infection was reduced from 15 per cent, to less than one in a hundred of the white dwellers' treated. ' "What-was the nature of ypnr conversation. with tlie accused?" asked a North Queensland'judge;'of a witness' in a .cane-burning case. "We were discussing the 'hooky,' " replied the witness. Everyone in North Queensland was talking "hooky." The soil pollution campaign extended far out into the remote settlements. Every house had its "hooky" notice posted .in/, the- living Toom. Fly-proof_ privies were introduced by the thousand. Interpreters were engaged to explain to .the Chinese, Hindus, and the polyglot collection of races that gathered in the cane fields for the cutting season, the • elements of sanitations. Local, authorities imposed fines up to £5 upon farmers,-, for having, privies that not* fl*-pro6f; The police, teachers, 'vmiinfcipal,; > and health inspectors, mill officials, hotelkeepers, were all pressed' into: the service, and the town of Cairns was voted the most sanitary centre in. Australia when the investigators moved south to continue their inquiries. The children benefited most of all , from the treatment, and, in place of the •lassitude, that., was hitherto regarded as one of the effects of tropical fife; there was evidence, to the satisfaction! of parents, a- dearee of physical activity among the children that, was previously considered impossible. The Commonwealth health authorities and. the Australian Medical Congress expressed its grateful appreciation of the magnificent work that was accomplished by the Rockefeller Commission, in clearing the.coastal districts from the enfeebling and demoralising effects of hookworm infestation: