93 
1‘REVENTIOX OF HOOKWORM DISEASE. 
Tn the prevention of diseases caused l)v animal parasites, we may. c)f 
course, attempt to attack the infectious a^ent in any sta^i' of its life 
histoiT. In connection with uncinariasis, three pm-iods in })articular 
come into consideration, namely: (1) The adult worm in tlu‘ int(‘stine; 
(2) the egg in the feces, and (3) the infecting (** eneystcnl ”) stage of 
the larva. 
(1) ADULT WORM IN THE INTESTINE; TREATMENT. 
The destruction of the adult worm in the intestine not only reli(‘V(*s 
the patient of an important and (when present in large numhers) 
serious or even dangerous parasite, hut it is also an imjiortant factor 
in preventing the spread of the disease to other people. Accordingly, 
treatment should be instituted even if the eggs found in the feces are 
so few in number as to indicate onlv a light infection. 
Not infreciuently the opinion is expressed that the infection with 
parasites found in a given patient is so light that treatment is hardly 
necessary. Such a view, however, is often very shortsightcal, for it is 
not infrequently light infections occurring at unfavorable seasons and 
under unfavorable conditions that furnish the matm-ial for heavy 
infections at more favorable times. No Jhicinarld infection in man 
is too light to be worthy of treatment, for each adult female may lay 
eggs; hence the destruction of these fimiales means the decrease of 
scores of free infectious larvte. 
Not all cases of the malady can lie recognized without the micro- 
scope; hence many people will unconsciously spread the disease- 
producing agent. Furthermore, man}' cases which might he recog- 
nized by symptoms will not come under medical treatment, so that 
they, too, will spread, the infectious material. It is clear, therefore, 
that for satisfactory results in prevention we must adopt some method 
in addition to the treatment. 
(2) EGGS IN THE FEUES; CONTROL AND DESTRUCTION. 
It is in the feces that we find the })otentially infectious material in 
the most concentrated form. After the eggs develop into embryos 
the latter may leave the fecal matti'r and he distributed in the sand or 
in the water. Accordingly, it is much easier to control or desti*oy a 
given amount of infectious matter while it is concmitrated in (he 
feces than it is lati'i* when it is si)n‘ad over a largiu’ area. Here, in 
fact, we have the key to the prevention of uncinariasis. Proper dis- 
})osal of the fecal discharges will make the s[)read ot uncinariasis 
impossible. As such proper disposal 1 will suggest: Pi’ojierly built 
privies when sewerage is lacking; use ot such outhouses after con- 
struction; cleaning the same at regular intervals, and burial, burning, 
disinfection, or drying of the feces. 
