61 
is increased ))v the lack of care o^iven to tin* |)i*op(*r dis])osal of alvine 
discharges. 
Bentley found in a water son* a youig worm which he con- 
sidered to be identical witli Ajchijlosto)n<i (himlcna/r. Ib* then ])cr- 
formed the following experiments — 
a. Some ordinary soil was sterilized by heat, and after beim'- 
moistened with sterilized water, was infected with a small (piantity of 
fecal matter containing numerous oya of Ayclnjlnsfonui dundennlt . 
}>. A similar preparation of soil was infected with a small (juantity 
of feces, which on examination was found to be free from hookworm 
infection. 
These two preparations were incubated at the ordinary tempei-ature 
of the air for about a week, when sample "'a" was found to be swarm- 
ing with laryal hookworms and yarious forms of bacteria and fungi, 
and sample was similar in appearance except that no hookworm 
laryie were found. 
h^ach sample was then diyided into two parts, a' and and // and 
h" . Samples a' and // were kept moist, while a" and lA were g(*ntly 
dried by exposure to the air for eight hours. Previous experiments 
had shown that six hours gentle drying at ordinary t(‘m})eratures was 
sufficient to kill the hookworm laryie. After remoisti'iiing (A and h" 
with sterilized water, the four samples were applied to the wrists of 
the subjects of experiment for eight to nine hours, iind then they were 
remoyed. Fifteen hours after the first application, considerable (‘ry- 
thema with a minute papular eruption appeared over the spot to which 
a' had been applied; within twenty-four hours a distinctly V(‘sicul:ir 
eruption had developed, followed by i)ustules exactly r(*sembling those* 
found in the lesions of ground itch. In the otlu'r cases a faint redden- 
ing of the. skin w’as produced, which shortly afterwards disapj)eareil. 
A reexamination of sample a' now' showed that no live* larva* we*re* 
present, although e)ue* or two eleael worms were founel. Sam])le* <t" 
still e*ontained the dead larva*. Ai)])arently, the*re*fe)re*, the* live* larva* 
a’ had entered the skin and their entry hael bee*n fe>lle)we*el by le*sie)ns 
similar to the>se found in w ater sore. 
According to Bentley, also, it is pre)bable* that the* ae-utene*ss e>f the 
inHammation attenelingan attae-k of the* gre)uml ite*h is large'ly ge»ve*rne*el 
by the nature e>f the organisms whie*h ace*e)mpany eu* fe)lle)W' the* lai'val 
hoe)kworms in their }>assage thre)ugh the* skin. 
Regarding the treatment e>f gre)und itch, Be*ntle*v >avs that in the* 
l)apular and early vesie*ular stage e>f the* dise*ase* the* applieatieen e>f a 
strolig solution of salicylie* ae*id in e*e)lle)dion e>r me*t liy late*el >j)ii’it will 
cause the eruption te) dry u]). and se> e*ut she>rt the* attack ot theelise*ase 
to one or twe) days. If, he^wever. pus has fe)rmeel. the* o?dy tri'atme*nt 
of any service is the opening up and disinfee*tie)fi o\ the* pustule*s with 
pure carbolic acid, silver nitrate, e>r nitric ae*iel, and the* after tre*atme*jit 
of the sore as an ordinary idcer. In cases atteneled with great swell- 
