PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PLECO 885
23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Enclosure 6 in No. 8.
Issued under the authority of the General Board of Health of Grenada.
HOOKWORM DISEASE,
Hookworm disease is caused by a small worm, half an inch long, which lives in the bowels.
The worm is whitish in colour and has a small kink at one end which looks like a tiny hook.
The mouth of the worm, which is so small that it cannot be seen with the naked eye, contains four sharp teeth, and with these it holds on to the bowel whilst sucking the patient's blood.
The worm not only sucks blood, but also poisons the patient with a bad fluid which it makes in its own body.
This poison causes the person who has these worms to become weaker and weaker until he (or she) cannot do any work at all, nor even climb the smallest hill, without becoming quite breathless.
The reason why this disease is common amongst labourers is because the young worms live in the damp soil, on which the labourer walks barefoot, and in which he works.
The young worms get into the soil from the excrement of those people who have got this disease and who will not use a privy or closet, or bury their excrement in the earth and who consequently make the soil foul and a danger to everyone who works on the land.
:
When the damp soil which contains these young worms gets on to the skin of the legs or arms, as it must when one walks about barefoot or is working in land, they burrow through the pores of the skin and set up an irritation, which is known Ground itch or "Showfee." The worms then make their way to the bowels,
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where they grow and cause the disease. Hence it is most necessary that everyone who works or walks barefoot on the land, especially on damp soil under trees, should wash their arms and legs many times in the day; so as to cleanse them from these worms and prevent them entering their bodies.
All who work on the land should see that no one fouls the soil with excrement, as one person's excrement which contains the eggs of this form is capable of giving the disease to numbers of people who get it on their skins and do not take the trouble to keep themselves clean.
With this object proper closets should be provided, wherever possible, and should be regularly used, and where such a closet is not available all excreta should be buried in the earth at least one foot from the surface.
you
you
If have the disease should go to your doctor who can cure it, if you are not too sick already, and who will tell you how to guard yourself against getting it again as one attack does not prevent you from getting it a second time.
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mission in connection with the eradication of ankylostomiasis, and requesting that full particulars of the prevalence and distribution of the disease in this Colony may be prepared and a copy thereof sent to you, for the information of a committee which you propose to form to co-ordinate the work in the various parts of the Empire.
2. In reply, I have the honour to transmit the accompanying reports, returns, and circulars which have been furnished at my request by the Superintending Medical Officer, and which will, in some measure, indicate the prevalence and distri- bution of this disease in Jamaica, and to say that I have caused directions to be given to ensure that every possible facility shall be afforded to Mr. Rose should he visit this Island.
I have, &c.,
Enclosure in No. 9.
W. H. MANNING,
Governor.
REPORTS AND RETURNS re ANKYLOSTOMIASIS FURNISHED BY THE SUPERINTENDING MEDICAL OFficer and forwarded to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
1. Extract from Anual Report of Superintending Medical Officer for 1910-11.
2.
3.
#1
"
"
"
"
"
1911-12. 1912-13.
3(A). Return of Hookworm at Public Hospitals from 1st April, 1913, to 31st
August, 1913.
4. Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 1581 (undated).
5.
Leaflet issued by Central Board of Health" Hookworm Disease-Anky-
lostomiasis," dated 12th February, 1913.
6.
Card issued by Central Board of Health-"Hookworm Disease-Anky-
lostomiasis," dated 12th February, 1913.
7.
Leaflet issued-" How to take medicine for anemia, &c."
8. Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 1390, dated 18th
May, 1912.
9.
Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 1858, dated 23rd
May, 1912.
10.
11.
Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 1763, dated 19th
June, 1912.
Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 1359, dated 5th
July, 1912.
12. Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 2851, dated 16th
October, 1912.
13. Circular (69) issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 2976, dated
7th November, 1912.
14. Circular (8) issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 2976, dated
20th January, 1913.
Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 3577, dated 27th
December, 1912.
(No. 404.) SIR,
No. 9.
JAMAICA.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 15 November, 1913.)
King's House, Jamaica, 24 October, 1913.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Miscellaneous despatch of the 26th August last, intimating that Mr. Wickliffe Rose, Director of the Inter- national Health Commission, contemplates visiting the West Indian Colonies during the coming winter, with a view to extending to them the operations of the Com-
}
• No. 3.
15.
16.
Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 37, dated 6th
January, 1913.
17.
Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 2976, dated 1st
February, 1913.
Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 1360, dated 19th
April, 1913.
18.
19. Circular issued by Superintending Medical Officer, No. 1581, dated 15th
May, 1913.
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