100 A PARASITIC SCOURGE OF WARM CLIMATES. 



Europe, at least, it spreads far beyond the tropics, for it is 

 found endemic as far north as Dortmund, inWestphaha, a town 

 in nearly the same latitude as London. Roughly speaking, 

 its northern limit in Europe coincides with that of the cultiva- 

 tion of the vine. I would draw attention to this as indicating 

 that there is nothing in climatic conditions to prevent it from 

 spreading into, if it is not already present in, the southern Aus- 

 tralian colonies. 



The first record of the occurrence of Anchylostoma in Aus- 

 tralia was made in 1889, by Dr. Hogg, who found it post-mortem 

 in an inmate of the asylum at Goodna. This remained an 

 isolated observation until March, 1892, when the parasite was 

 re-discovered by Dr. J. Lockhart Gibson and myself, during life 

 in two children from Cairns, admitted into the Children's Hos- 

 pital for anaemia. These cases are recorded fully in the Trans- 

 actions of the Intercolonial Medical Congress, held in Sydney 

 during the same year. Since that time many cases have been 

 recorded by ourselves and other observers, from Cairns, Towns- 

 ville, Mackay, Maryborough, and from various stations on the 

 North Coast line between Brisbane and Gympie, and lately also 

 from the TweedRiver, just across the border of New South Wales. 

 So far as is known at present this is its southern limit, but as 

 the disease is one that may easily pass unrecognised, it is quite 

 possible that it may extend further. There is no doubt that 

 this pest has spread thoughout the coastal districts of the colony. 

 From the interior no cases have, so far, been reported. In the 

 south of the colony it appears to affect particularly the country 

 districts, for I know of no case originating in Brisbane, though it 

 prevails both to the north and south of this city. Whether it is 

 really indigenous to the colony, or has been introduced, is beyond 

 the reach of direct proof. I hold the latter opinion. When we 

 come to consider the life-history of the parasite, we .shall see 

 that it is easily capable of being introduced from infected coun- 

 tries, and of being spread from one locality to another in the 

 same way ; and it is probably so spreading at the present time. 



The adult Anchylostoma is a minute slender worm, from a 

 quarter to half an inch in length. When fresh it is frequently 

 of a pinkish colour, from ingested blood. I do not propose to 

 describe its anatomy in detail on the present occasion. One 

 point must, however, be mentioned as of special importance, 



