60 
More recently (see Sandwith. 190:2). Looss has performed ex^Deriments 
which, so far as can he judged at present, demonstrate the correctness 
of his theory. According to Sand with (I90d). Looss smeared on the 
back of a puppy a mixture of charcoal and feces in which hookworm 
larvw had been bred. Between nine and ten days afterward the 
puppy died and was found to have anemia of most of his organs, and 
a plentiful supply of young hookworms was found in his jejunum. A 
second puppy was treated in a similar way and also died on the night 
between the ninth and tenth days. Upon post-mortem he also showed 
exactly the same results. A man who offered himself for experiment 
was also similarly treated on his forearm, and in his case the first 
hookworm eggs were discovered in his feces on the seventy-first day. 
In all three experiments the feces were regularly examined for some 
weeks prior to the experiments, so that, so far as we can now judge, 
the results must be accepted, despite their very startling nature. 
Furthermore. Looss is known as too careful an investigator to permit 
any foreseen error to creep into his conclusion. 
Somewhat similar results, namely the entrance of embryos into the 
skin, have been obtained by van Durme (190:2. pp. 171-471) in ex])eri- 
ments with Strong yJoides rtercoraJis on guinea pigs, and it is needless 
to insist on the great importance of Looss's demonstration. 
Bentley ^ theory of ground itch . — In line with Looss's views, Bentley 
(1902a) has made certain exceedingly important observations and , 
experiments, the logical conclusion of which, taken in connection 
with Looss's work, seems to be that at least certain forms of oTound 
itch constitute the initial symptom of uncinariasis. Bentley defines 
ground itch as follows: 
Ground itch — Synonyms: Panighao, vxiter itch, u'ater pox, water sores, sore feet of 
coolies — is an affection of the skin, confined entirely to the lower extremities, and 
probably always associated with the presence of the larvie of Anhjlostoma diiodenale 
in the soil of the affected areas; endemic in Assam and the West Indies and possibly 
present in other parts of the Tropics; characterized by its periodical epidemic 
appearance hi the infected areas, coincident with the onset of the rainy season; with , 
typical lesions consisting in a primary erythema, followed by vesicular eruption, 
which frequently liecomes pustular and in severe cases may result in obstinate 
ulceration, or even gangrene. 
Dr. Seheult (1900). of Trinidad, has suggested that the disease is , 
probably due to some chemical irritant present in the soil, either | 
natural or due to manure used in cultivation. Dr. Dalgetty (1901). of j 
South Sylhet. struck by the resemblance which the lesions bear to r 
scabies, and finding a mite present which he named Rluzoglyphus I 
ixirasiticus. assumed this acarine to be the cause. These authors and lj| 
Bentley (1902a) seem to agree that ground itch is a filth disease which 
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ :t~ T 
o During the proof reading of the jiresent report, Looss’s (1903) article, detailing i| 
his brilhant experiments, has appeared. He demonstrates, beyond any question of’, ! 
a doubt, the correctness of his contention that infection with hookworms may take 1 - 1 
place through the skin. 1 
