Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-09-26
NO. 40.
HORRORS OF THE PLAGUE.
Every Woman Dies ThO is Attacked
How the Disease DeceiyeS.
Mnmnhis afInr

You can form no idea of the distress.
Women in childbirth. surrounded by
little ones, quartered in tents. see one
by one pass from their sight on to the
hospital, thence 10 the grave. Soon the
babe Is born, yellow as gold; the mother
fingers 4 few days, and then she. the
last Of the household, is put under the
ground. We save no women who are
attacked. Yesterday a woman and two
pretty daughters, of twelve and sixteen
years, walked from the train to my tent
and reported for assignment to quar-
ers. From my familiarity with the dis
ease | at once remarked: "Whv, wo-
man, your two girls have the fever"
The eldest one said: mo, sir; indeed.
| never felt better in my life. I had a
little chill yesterday, but am we'll now"
Her pulse showed 125, temperature
1O4; eyes CLASSY, skin puffed and the
whole countenance beautiful pink. In
order to quiet and crafty the mother |
put up tent near me for the night.
Next morning l had them examined
and both were sent to the hospital. |
was down there this noon. The mother
was PROSTATE with nervous prostratiOn
tAA4A tI4C CllIlO1 GI1 IlC III GllG outer UClQ.
This disease is yellow fever, or Is,
IN fact, the malarial fever of this coast,
intensified by the introduction Of the
germs Of ship or Asiatic fever. 1t is
the most subtle scourge the world has
experienced, and battles al medical
experience. A person of intelligence,
when first attacked with the malarial
symptoms, if he be administered to at
once with the usual treatment, wrapped
up in blankets and nursed carefully,
may pull through. None but the rich
can IN times like the present command
special attention. The masses are
treated by the wholesale, and all alike;
few recover.
The first symptoms are heaviness and
a slight chill, then suppression of the
urine, pulled face, CLASSY eye, beautiful
flushed skin, pink eye-lids, pulse 120
temperature 103 to 106. Soon yomito
begins, which is simply slight, hawk
ing sound and splitting of coffee
ground substance from the stomach,
which sinks to the bottom of the vessel.
The patient after each emission, feels
well and would get up if allowed. No
pain, no evidence Of concern, either by
look or action. The pulse begins to
run down to 90 so, 20, 80, 70; then
comes the pinched nostril and mechan-
ical breathing They sit up; want to
get up; are induced to lie down, and
quietly pass away.
Thursday night, as [ was making the
rounds, | saw woman returning from
the infrmary with vial of medicine.
1t was sprinkling little She went into
her tent. lit Il candle and lay down. In
Il few minutes | heard an alarm. Wo-
men and children were running wild
about that portion Of the camp. | hast
ened there, when my eyes beheld =
most hearuending sight. This woman's
babe, nine months old was crying on its
mothers breast, and she was dead. /
came near having a stampede. The
child was cared for, the mother taken
away and the tent burned with its CON
tents.
The doctors quarrel among them
selves, each insisting that his own theory
Of treatment is the right one. They re-
fuse to organize. The negroes refuse to
bulge while rations are given out, and
threatened to sack the town unless their
demands are acceded to.