American Murderer: The Parasite that Haunted the South

TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 VAMPIRE 8Chapter 2 WORM SCIENTIST 11 Chapter 3 UNLOCKING SECRETS 21 Chaoter 4 THE LAZINESS GERM 34  ALL ABOUT HOOKWORMS 42 Chapter 5 BATTLING NECATOR 46Chapter 6 “SKIDOO, HOOKWORM” 59 Chapter 7 HOOKWORM SOCIALS 72 Chapter 8 THE PRIVY PROBLEM 90 Chapter 9 A CURSE IS LIFTED 103 Chapter 10 THE BLOODSUCKER LIVES ON 114  TIMELINE 124  GLOSSARY 128  MORE TO EXPLORE 131  AUTHOR’S NOTE 132 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 134  SOURCE NOTES 136  BIBLIOGRAPHY 142  INDEX 149  PICTURE CREDITS 152CHAPTER ONE: VAMPIRE“The disease . . . is primarily a ‘poor man’s’ malady.”—Charles Stiles, American scientistEARLY ONE MORNING IN NOVEMBER 1908, A TRAIN SLOWED down to pick up passengers at a southern railroad station. Peering through his railcar’s window, a traveler from Iowa pointed to a deathly pale, hunched-over figure standing on the station platform.“What on earth is that?” he asked his two companions, wondering what could make a young man look so emaciated and broken down.His friend, who had grown up in the South, explained that the man was probably one of the local tenant farmers.The Iowan was shocked. He was used to the robust look of midwestern farmers.“If he represents Southern farm labor the South is in poor luck,” he said.The third traveler, a scientist, had seen many similar people. In fact, he had been studying them for several years, and he knew exactly what was wrong with the man on the platform. He informed his friends that they were looking at a victim of America’s bloodsucking murderer.This vampire thrived in the warm southern climate. It lurked on the ground outside rural homes, schools, and churches. Invisible to its potential victims, it waited until one of them passed by. Undetected, it hitched a ride, burrowed in through the skin, and tricked the person’s body into allowing it to stay. The intruder hid deep in the host’s gut for years, anchored in place by sharp fang-like mouthparts. Day by day, one drop at a time, the vampire devoured blood from its unsuspecting victim. At first the person suffered few ill effects. But when more invaders followed —and they usually did—his or her body became home to hundreds, sometimes thousands, of the tiny creatures.Before long, the daily blood loss was enough to weaken and sicken the host. The person was transformed into a dull-witted, frail individual with a blank stare and shuffling gait—just like the man on the platform.The scientist had learned many of the American Murderer’s secrets. He understood how it attacked the human body. He was aware of the damage it did. And he was convinced the vampire could be stopped—must be stopped!—from slowly sucking the life and energy out of millions of men, women, and children. He was determined to end this medical fiasco—one that most of America didn’t know existed.