Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-10-01
" "Beriberl "a Terrible Tropical Dis
ease.

" Beriberl "A Terrible Tropical Dis
ease.
THE Brazilian man-of-war Vital P0Li- |
Uera, which arrived in this port about a
week ago, brought with her terrible |
tropical disease. Il is the malady known |
to medical men as 'beriberi," is of East |
Indian origin, and no cases of it having |
ever before been encountered in this |
country or Europe, but little is known
of it by local practitioners. Probably
there is not one in the city who has ever
seen a case of it before this week, and
their only knowledge of it is that OBJ
tanned from textbooks, most of which
also are equally in the dark regarding
it, as shown by their silence. In view
of the interest taken by leading practi-
TONERS and by the public in the disease,
a Chronicle reporter on Sunday visited
the Marine Hospital, where the patients
suffering from the malady are being
treated. 1t is generally conceded by
the physicians, who have carefully
watched every symptom of the disease
since the men have been placed in the
hospital, that there is not the slightest
foundation for alarm or danger of con-
tagion, and they also express themselves
as highly indignant at the account given
by contemporaneous morning sheet,
with the ridiculous statement in refer
ence to the death of the patients, and
also at the tone Of the article, appar-
emily written with a view TO create alarm
among the public generally. DR.. E.
Hebersrith, the physician in charge of
the hospital, states that he has made a
close study of the disease, and it is no
more contagious than scurvy, and it will
affect only these men, who no doubt con-
tracted it while in Japan, where it is well
known. The disease, he believes, may be
cured, although it is stated that the gem
eral average of death would be thirty
five per cent. The Doctor is closely eX-
amining the patients, using every process
known TO medical science to aid him in
discovering the true nature of the NAL
ady.
The reporter, in company with several
leading physicians who happened to be
present, entered the ward where the
patients are being treated. The room is
long, well lighted, and we'll ventilated.
Along both sides of the ward are neat
iron bedsteads, kept scrupulously clean,
which the dark-visaged patients have
occupied. There are eighteen of the
marines and sailors of the Brazilian man
of-war Vital d'OIiUcTG in the hospital,
and all but four are able to walk about;
and on the arrival of the visitors most
of them were sitting on.the porch out
side the ward, enjoying the pleasant,
sunny afternoon. The men are all well
developed, and look well enough; it is
only on approaching them and scanning
them closely, that anything out of the
ordinary can be detected. Their gait is
trembling, and in some cases they totter
along. The expression of the face,
however, is the safest indication that a
mysterious disease has bound them in
its poisonous grasp. Their swarthy, in
telligent faces bear upon them the stamp
of an almost pathetic pleading for help.
The flesh is in nowise discolored, nor is
there any other sign of disease, save the
very anxious expression of cOuntenance.
They follow the Doctors directions with
an almost despairing devotion, and since
two of their fellows have died they have
been more cast down, and their ex-
pressions of countenance have taken on
still deeper hue of distress. They
enjoy their meals, eating heartily of the
food provided for them suffer little pain,
and have their full power of mind.
They are very weak, however, and can
not bear any fatigue. The four cases
that are more seriously affected seem to
have almost lost the will TO move. They
lie on their beds staring at those who
come near them, yet are too weak
to talk or move. None of the men show
any signs of emaciation, nor does any
part Of the body betray, by mark or ap.
pearance, the presence of disease. Dur
ing the reporters visit one of the patients
was disrobed and thoroughly examined
by the following physicians, who have
taken a deep interest in the cases: Drs
Hirschfelder, Adler, Kahn and Heber.
smith. The patient was man of mod.
crate size, with muscles well developed
chest broad and deep, and gave evi
dence of being an unusually strong man
Yet so weak was he from the effects oi
the disease that he could hardly turn in
his bed without assistance. His respi
atory powers were weak and fitful, and
although in no pain, apparently, the
touch of the physician at the muscles
seemed to make him vince. The treat
ment followed by DR.. Hebersnith is of g
tonic and supporting kind, but the re-
covery is in all cases slow and of long
duration. The men are of a superior
kind, being unusually neat and clean il
their clothing, and they are highly
spoken of by those who wait upon them
being extremely grateful for anything
that is done for them. From what car
be ascertained they have been fed OF
proper food and have been well takeI
J care of; but the weather during theil
trip in the Orient has been foggy anC
wet, as well as extremely warm. Tht
physicians, therefore, conclude that eli
matte influences have much TO do will
the strange disease.-SaH Fra,lciSc,
ChrOnicle.
MARY WEIGH, an old lady one hun
: dred and seven years of age, died few
Lnurn M. NJ EnrruunnI.u. Enrrn Ghn n-rnI