292 REPORT—1904. 
The Probability of Ankylostoma becoming a Permanent Inhabitant of 
our Coal Mines in the event of its introduction.—Interim Report of 
the Committee, consisting of Dr. G. H. F. NurratL (Chairman), 
G. P. Broper (Secretary), Dr. A. E. Boycott, Dr. J. 8. HaLpane, 
and A. E. SHIPLEY. 
SUMMARY. 
THERE are many channels by which Ankylostoma might be introduced 
into British coal-mines. 
The conditions found underground in these mines are such that the 
worm would, in many cases, at any rate, probably become firmly established. 
In view of the expense and difficulty of eradicating the worm from 
any mine in which it has become established, it is of the greatest 
importance that preventive measures should be undertaken without 
delay. Complete eradication does not yet appear to have been ever 
accomplished. 
The necessary prevention is best accomplished by the provision of 
proper sanitary accommodation in the main roads underground and at the 
pit’s mouth, by regulations to prevent pollution of the pit by human 
feces, and by the establishment of a limited quarantine system for work- 
people from infected areas, with compulsory notification of cases to the 
Home Office. 
Importance of the Question. 
The economic importance of Ankylostoma is very great. In many 
tropical countries it is one of the chief causes of death ; thus in Porto 
Rico more than one-fifth of all deaths are due to this worm disease. In 
this country the underground workings of mines afford the necessary 
tropical conditions of temperature, and in this way provide situations in 
which the worm is capable of flourishing. In the Westphalian coalfield 
the disease became prominent about four years ago, and many cases of 
illness occurred. The number of men who were thus incapacitated from 
work was observed to be increasing rapidly ; in consequence very exten- 
sive efforts have been made to stamp out the disease. Hospitals were 
built, a special staff of doctors provided, all the men were specially 
examined ; those who were found to be infected were not allowed to work 
underground, and were all treated in the hospitals until they were free 
from the worm. It is impossible to state exactly even the direct expense 
of all these measures, but the figure certainly amounts to several hundred 
thousand pounds. 
When it is remembered that 650,000 men are employed underground 
in the coal-mines of Great Britain, and that it has been found that in a 
badly infected mine 80 per cent. of the men may have the disease, the 
gravity of the question is apparent. By the incidence of such an epi- 
demic both employers and workpeople must be seriously affected, not 
only in the measure of the number of men seriously ill, but also of the far 
greater number who have no obvious symptoms, but an impaired efficiency 
for work. 
The sanitary arrangements in Westphalia have been carried out very 
