52 
I am at a loss for a satisfactory explanation of the comparatiTe 
freedom from uncinariasis noticed in the neo-ro. Thev live under the 
same conditions as the poorer classes of the white population, except 
that, as a rule, the negro farm labor is more common in the rich than 
in the sand districts; however, negroes also live in infected districts. 
It is true, as frequently claimed, that some of the negro habitations 
are more clean than some of the homes of the poorer whites. Still, 
not all negro huts are cleaner than all white huts. The personal 
habits of the negro children are certainly no more hygienic than those 
of the white bovs and girls. 
One factor which may possibly play a role in this comparative free- 
dom from the disease on the part of the negro is the fact that negro 
women very frecpieutly give their children ‘’worm tea,’’ made from 
certain plants, in order to expel the ’* eelworm” {Ascaris lunibricoide-s)^ 
or they give calomel ’* to regulate the liver.’' and this may perhaps 
also result in expelling the hookworms before the latter have had an 
opportunity to do much harm. Still this explanation is not altogether 
satisfactory, especially in view of the testimony of both the local phy- 
sicians and the negroes themselves to the effect that eelworms are 
much less common now than formerly, hence ’’worm tea'’ is not 
taken so frequently as in former years. 
Chabert (lS21a). Jordan (1S32). Imray (1SJ3). Le Conte (1SJ5), Duncan 
(1850), and other authors report “dirt-eating" among the negroes. In 
fact, nearly all early authors who describe “dirt-eating'’ lay special 
stress on the frequency of the habit among the slaves. 
In conversation with a negro druggist. I was informed that while 
dirt-eating was formerD said to be more or less prevalent among the 
negroes, it was an acknowledged fact among them that the custom had 
greatly decreased in recent j'ears. In connection with this statement 
we may note the interesting claim by Cotting (1836a) that there was a 
reduction in dropsy and dirt-eating corresponding to the more general 
use of calomel. 
Sandwith remarks upon the apparent comparative freedom of the 
negro from uncinariasis and anemia. Zinn and Jacoby (1896) also 
refer to the frequent presence of Agchylostoma duodencde in negroes 
of Africa, in whom the anemia was not prominent. 
Can it be that the poison produced by the hookworms has less effect 
upon negroes than on whites and that on this account the disease is 
less severe in the dark races \ 
OCCUPATIOX OF PATIEXT. 
It is generally acknowledged by writers on uncinariasis that the 
disease is especially prevalent among people who in their daily work 
come in contact with earth. In fact, the malady is sometimes called 
“ brickmakers' anemia'’ or “miners' anemia.'’ Sandwith mentions 
“peasants” as apparently forming the majority of his patients. 
