DISEASE AND CRIME.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13861, 26 March 1907, Page 5

DISEASE AND CRIME.

(Pw Uottm Pnuss Association.) WELLINGTON, March 25. In (l'.o course of it lecture in aid of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society, Dr T. K Miicdonald rcforrcd to a .disease that had proved to his entire satisfaction to bo the cause .of criminality in those tilhickcd.. 'The scientific name of the disease was, ho said, ankylostomiasis, and its English name was th-,' "earth-eat ins" disease. It was caused by small internal lcech-likn worms, which sucked the blood from the intestinal wall. Great weakness followed tlio ravages of the parasite;, for they existed in millions. The disease was peculiar in that the physical, menial, and moral man dird together tinder ils attack. Children who were victims (If it l>eeame highly susceptible to influences which caused them to In-come criminal, to lie, lo sleal, and lo develop habits of solitary and sexual vices. These tendencies tvere powerful enough in the comparatively strong, hut their power for evil was increased a thousandfold when manifesting themselves in physical wrecks.