Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-09-30
Sc Beriberi "a Terrible Tropical Dis.
ease.

THE Brazilian man-of-war Vital POli-
Uera, which arrived in this port about q
week ago, brought with her terrible
tropical disease. 1t 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 a 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. DIR. E.
Hebersrith, the physician in charge Of
the hospital, states that he has made
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 gen.
eral average Of death would be thirty
five per cent. The Doctor is closely ex-
aiming 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 well 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'Olicera 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
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
a 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