The New York herald., 1875-02-08
THE WHAT is 1T?
cold Princeton" in a State
of Alarm.
Is There Contagious Disease in the Athens
Of New Jersey?
College Boys Sick and College Boys Well Pleased
with the Prospect Of Getting Home.


The usually well beloved and sleepy town which
Jerse ymen delight TO cali ''The Athens OF New
Jersey" instead OF Princeton. has figured much in
our country's history. The chronicles record that
there was battle fought there IN the times OF
Washington. and the chronicles elaborarely detail
all the circumstances connected herewith. Prince
ton Ii an old town, but stil she is not satisfied.
She desires to crowd herself to the 'front.' to take
front seat in the Congress OF aspiring namlets
some OF which are only recognized BY
THE STRAY STAKES OF THE LAND SURVEYOR
and she significant sign, "L0ts for sale cheap"
Princeton In the last half century has been rarely
mentioned outside OF New Jersey. Yet Princeton
Is as old as the Republic, and now that the Gen.
tennial Is coming on little Princeton wants noto-
riety by the side OF which the fame OF the metrop-
oils will pale.
1t ought be admitted that in one particular she
is entitled BY her venerable age to ask New York
to step down 70 lower seat. This Is In regard to
her college, for there, all Americans will admit Is
located OF the finest colleges OF learning in our
country, the eruditiCn OF whose President-the
venerable and respected DR.. McCosh-and faculty
is national, and In which all true Americans take
just pride. But the credit Of graduating gentle
men OF finished education does not satisfy
THIS LITTLE TOWN ON A HILL
She wants reputation, even II II be through the
instrumentalty Of an epidemic that viii scatter
her college boys to their homes and leave her "sol-
itary one-eyed policeman as the boys style the
force, nothing to do except to gather into the
stockade the few veteran bummers who hang
about two Of the nostelres assuming to be notels.
The HERALD on Friday and Saturday referred to
q disease existing in the town. which had ex-
tended to the students of the college. the exact
nature OF which was disputed point-one OF the
attending physicians characterzlng four OF the
cases attended by him as diphtheria, while
another reported the disease as
PnARYNGITIS, OR INFLAMMATION IN THE THROAT.
A representative OF the HERALD, on Saturday,
devoted several hours to the work Of ascertalning
real facts In the case, and is forced to the con-
clusion that while the disease is infectious, 1t Is
not dangerous, and consequently there need be no
cause for closing the college at this time. Pres
ident McCosh assured the reporter that there
was no occasion for alarm on the
part OF the parents or friends Of the
students, that the physicians had assured him
that the disease was merely an aggravated kind
OF sore throat Some OF the parents or students
including Mr.. Pine, OF this city, had, on reading
the report OF diphtheria at the college, FASTENED
tnither; but, after seeing DR.. Wykon, had re-
turned satisfied that their sons were IN danger
DR.. McCosh further asserted that in the past two
or three days he had visited all who seriously
I'll and all are either convaescent or getting
better. Many OF them attend recitations as usual,
although suffering from the disease. He main
tanned that there had not been
CASE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE
in the college for Two years. They may, perhaps,
call some OF 1t diphthera, 'but II is not said the
Doctor, "of an infectious form. Why, in one case
l sent my son to sleep with one Of the youths
whose companion was absent, and although ne
had the disease In an aggravated form
ny son did not take 1t in the two
nights occupancy OF the same room. This satis-
fed me that the disease is not Infectious" The
Doctor admitted that twenty or thirty young gen.
tlemen had been attacked with the disease, but
none were Ill more than few days. He also
stated that he did not think there any serio
ALARM EXISTING AMONG THE BOYS,
who looked upon the publication OF tho exist
ence OF diphtheria there as college iun; yet such
reports were calculated to injure the college and
alarm parents. He admitted, with qualin incations,
the published statement OF correspondent OF the
HERALD that many Of the students are taking
their Departure DR.. McCosh stated that some
had really left without permission, but that is not
unusual thing at the end OF the week wit h
those whose parents reside at convenient dis.
tance so that The boys can get back for Mondays
Rotations In the case Of
YOUNG sCRIBNER, OF NEW YORK.
made an investigation, and found the report un-
true.
oeng asked in what particular this disease differs
from diphtner1a stated to the represen tatlve OF
the HERALD that in diphtheria there Is mem.
braneIorm layer In the tonss which can be
stripped OF in layers. In this disease IT Is pull
taceous deposit with the edges definitely defined
The white points seem to penetrate Tor dlp) into
the tonsils instead OF spreading over them, as
In diphtleria cases. This gentleman stated that
THIS WAS NO NEW DISEASE.
He had attended lOrtV fifty since the
early fall among the students. For week there
would be numerous cases, then there would be an
abatement. He had ais, attended many cases In
his private practice. He stated that he could not
remember summer for ten or twelve years that
ised to have the patient well in four
or five days, and they always recovered. He stated
epidemics OF the most malignant type and was
satisfied this was not any form OF diphtheria. He
asserted that Or. McCosh when ne stated tnat the
disease was not Infectious, was mistaken. 1t is.
be said. Infectious the same as influenza Is tpfec-
tlous. but 1t is not dangerous. and
PERSON NEVER DIES OF 1T.
They usually get well In three or four days. He
asserted from his own knowledge of the cases he
attended that there had not been real case Of
diphtheria; but this disease exists all over the
country, and IL would not be strange, Dr. Wykon
4 nsy had eases o. dpsners IN he
but The students are, and many OF them want TO
DR.. schenck. of the faculty, who IS q physician
and has attended some OF the students, admitted
that there existed colds and sore throats, but he
declared that there was nothing alarming about Ii.
In the cases he had seen there was
NO REsENBLANcE TO DrPHTHERIA.
He ridicued the idea that The students mad got up
conspiracy Dy circulating exaggerated rumors
about 1t with view OF having the college closed
for season. They knew tsat such q ruse would
fail, and he rather inclined 10 belief tnat the
matter had been exaggerated by the students for
q little fun. He had no objection. he said to fun,
but this was serious fun for many anxious
parents who we're alarmed by these reports. Dr.
Lytle, another attending physician, whose testi-
mony that he had attended
FOUR CASES 0E DIPHTHERIA,
In mild form, among the Students appeared In
saturdays HERALD, was sought, but he being ab-
sent from home the writer was unable to ascer-
tam further details from him. The faculty made
light OF the disease, and expressed great desire
lest the college should be injured by the reports.
Yet they displayed no disposition TO give the
representative OF the HERALD facilities to make
personal examination OF the sick cases and ascer-
tain the correct number VINO have been stricken
with the disease. from the above 1t viii be seen
that the attending