ANKYLOSTOMIASIS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 71, 25 March 1907, Page 8

ANKYLOSTOMIASIS.

"THE EARTH-EATING

DISEASE."

THE CAUSE OF CRIMINALITY

|>KE«9 ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, March 25. Speaking on Saturday in the course of a lecture in aid of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society, Dr T..F. MacDonald referred to a disease that had proved, to his entire satisfaction, to be the cause of criminality in those it attacked. The scientific name of the disease was, he said, ankylostomiasis; its English name the " earth-eating " disease. It was caused by a small internal leech like worms, which sucked the blood from the intestinal wall. Great weakness followed the ravages of the parasites, for they existed, in millions. The disease was peculiar in that the physical, mental, and moral man died together under its attack. Children who were victims of it became highly susceptible to influences which caused them to become criminal : to lie, to steal, and- to deveiop habits of solitary and sexual vices. These tendencies were powerful enough in the comparatively strong, but their power for evil was increased a thousand-fold when manifesting themselves in physical wrecks.