EATERS OF EARTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 8 November 1912, Page 6

EATERS OF EARTH

The strange parasite known as the "hook-worm" has recently been engaging the attention of a number of scientfic investigators in various parts of the world. Dr. Stil-es, of the United States Public Health Service, has discovered that the South American Indians affected by the parasite have acquired a habit of eating earth, the perversion of appetite being, he asserts, due solely to the action of the hook-worm in the food canal .The prominence given %o Dr. Stiles' reports has resulted in the publication by the "Scientific American" of an interesting article dealing with - earth-eaters in general. The practice, it is said, is not by any means confined to the tribes mentioned by Dr. Stiles. The Pawnee Indians (North America) make little balls of yellow clay mixed into putty consistency with water. These balls are allowed to dry, and are then slowly roasted. When they attain a red colour they are moistened with water and eaten. The Pawnees claim that the clay balls add an excellent relish to fish, and greatly assist the digestion. The Timmeh Indians, of the Mackenzie River, chew clay in times of famine, and the Apache Indians mix powdered clay into the meal before breaking their bread. The natives of Bolivia are extremely fond of cakes made of a white clay, and such cakes are with them a stapie market commodity. The negroes on the Guinea Coast and those of West Africa frequently eat clay, and the Soudanese are fo'nd of a clay found between strata of sandstone on the banks of rivers. The natives of Java prepare and sell little cakes of clay seasoned with ochre. The "hairy Ainus" of Northern Japan mjx clay with their rice and other vegetable food, while in Persia certain rare sorts of clay have been considered a delicacy since the days of Persia's greatness. The practice of using clay ■ in_ bread-making as observed by the Apaches is also prevalent in many parts of Europe, including Finland, Sweden, and Sardinia.