EFFECT UPON GENERAL DEATH RATE 219 



90 per cent, of the population harboured the parasite. 

 To carry out the prophylactic and curative campaign 

 the island was divided into three zones, each under 

 the control of a commissioner. Numerous ' Ansemia 

 Stations ' were formed in each district. The diagnosis 

 of each case was made accurately by the use of the 

 microscope. An active educational propaganda was 

 instituted, and the people taught the nature of the 

 disease and how it was contracted ; stress was laid 

 upon the necessity of using only privies, and that on 

 no account must the people deftecate on the ground ; 

 the people were also exhorted to wear shoes. The 

 treatment consisted in the use of thymol and beta 

 naphthol. The total number of people treated amounted 

 to 89,233 ; of this number 43 per cent, were cured, and 

 in 16 per cent, the conditions were improved." 



It is especially to be noted that the campaign against 

 the ankylostome has a most marked effect in reducing 

 the general death rate. Dr. Heiser, Chief Quarantine 

 Officer for the Philippine Islands, lays great stress upon 

 this aspect of the campaign, and I fully agree. Given 

 a man or woman or child suffering, say, from tuber- 

 culosis or other disease, the chances of recovery are 

 immensely decreased if the anaemic condition produced 

 by ankylostomes is also present. If a low mortality 

 rate is desired, then war must be pressed against these 

 parasites. 



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