The absolute diagnosis of ancylostomiasis depends on the detection of the ancylostome eggs in the fæces, and presents no difficulties.
Prophylaxis is of the greatest importance, especially to miners. The spread of ancylostomiasis seems to depend only on fæces deposited in damp places, so that on the one hand the deposition of fæces must be prevented, and on the other the fæces must be rendered as far as possible harmless; in addition, there is the individual prophylaxis.
General prophylaxis requires:—
(1) Examination immediately for ancylostomes of miners seeking work and of those newly taken on five to six weeks after.
(2) Indentured workers who are infected with worms are not allowed to work underground until a medical certificate in writing is brought to the effect that they are no more infected with eggs (the same procedure applies to workmen in brick kilns) (Goldmann[848]).
(3) Indentured workers infected with worms must submit themselves to the prescribed treatment, and after its completion further submit their stools to three examinations at intervals of about four weeks.
(4) Special supervision of miners and brick-makers coming from the Italian frontier.
(5) Workmen must be given instructions, both by word of mouth and in writing in their mother tongue, as to the infectivity and danger of ancylostomiasis both to themselves and others.
(6) Orders are to be given as to washing, baths, and changing of clothes at the end of the work.
(7) During the hours of working in the pits, taking of food is strictly forbidden without thorough and entire washing.