The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-10-25
DREAD DIPHTHERIA.
Perambulatlng Reporters
Search After Information
Yesterday.
The Opinion of Eminent Physi
cians-Only Sporadic Cases in
the City and Country.
THE RED BRICK.

THE RED BRICK.
On West Seventh street, Just in the rear
of the old three story red brick occupied
as a drug store by Doctor Tobin, is
another red brick two stories high. In
deed, it is an extension of the three-story
structure. The second floor of this extern
sion is separated from the parent building
by covered hallway.
The old red brick with its modest
extension has history, but The STATES
MAN this morning can only barely allude
to it.
The front of it has looked down upon
some of the most desperate and bloody
encounters ever witnessed on the frontier
of the great southwest.
Within its walls, in the long ago, the
"Knights of the Golden Circle" and the
"Knights of Malta" held their regular
stated meetings. After them the Masons
and Odd Fellows, entrance to the lodge
rooms being gained by way of an outside
fight of steps. Later on the extension
was built.
There is more than one
weird, spectral tale connected
with the old building and some day THE
STATESMAN may relate them.
sEEKING INFORMATION.
1t was up flight of rickety steps lead
ing to the second floor of the extension
STATESMAN reporter carefully picked his
way yesterday.
On the landing leading into the open
covered way, already alluded to, there was
very strong odor of bats and doctors,
who, in common seem to occupy the whole
of the second floor.
The reporter was hunting the doctors
and approaching an open door he peered
into a room; it was a doctors domicile.
No doubt about that, for walls of medicine
and ancient dust were scattered around in
beautiful confusion.
In private room could be seen won
derfully constructed chair, with screws and
Joints to throw it into ali sorts of uncom-
Portable positions.
The doctor was ont, but a great gray
spider, true to the instincts of the place,
was calmly dissecting fly.
The reporter gazed around to see if he
conld discover the traditional barrel with
its lime and Ought Audit could
not be seen, but the oft repeated story of
that barrel told around roaring fires on
boisterous winter evenings by old "black
mammals" when "marster and missus"
were away, always had it concealed.
Another Office was visited, but the doc
tor was out. Another and the doctor was
out, and then another, the doctor
was in writing an able article on how to
patch up fellow decently after the rail-
roads have mangled him.
SOME OPINIONS.
1t was Doctor Swearingen.
doctor do you know of a case of diph-
thria in the city" Blurted ont the re-
porter.
"Not case in my practice. dismissed
the last one, Mr.. Caperton's little child
some three or four weeks ago. 1 don't
think there is any danger of it's spreading,
but parents should be careful, as the dis
ease is very contagious, and very difficult
to control"
Doctor Frank Mclaughlin was seen.
81 have no cases in my practice" he
said, "and if there is case in the city l
don't know it,"
DIR. l.. B. johnson said:
II have no cases, but if it is in the city
parents in the neighborhoud of it should
be careful not to allow
their children to come in contact with it,
as it is very contagious"
DR.. T. II. Bragg said, 81 have no cases,
nor do [ know of q case"
DR.. T.J. Bennett was found in his office,
over Samostz' drug store.
81 have no diphtheria in my practice.
discharged the last case some weeks ago
cured. 1 consider it very dangerous
disease, and isolation should be perfect
Where children come in contact with 1t, II
Is very contagious"
DR.. j. w. Mclaughlin said, 81 have nc
diphtheris in my practice now"
All the doctors, when expressing them
selves on the character of the disease
emphatically pronounced 1t exceedingly
contagious and very dangerous-in short
as dangerous as any known to the profess
sion. They were also very emphatic, tina
the law requiring physicians to repor
cases be rigidly enforced.
The reporter then visited the Office Of
Doctor Graves, and found one of the in
applicable chairs found in all other offices
but no doctor.
His register was found, wherein the Law
requires every physician in the city to
register cases of dirhtheria, giving name
age, color and residence of the patient
On this register, for this year up to date
were registered twelve cases of this
disease against four for all of last year.
The two last cases reported are October
10, Sadie Rather, by DR.. Graves, and on
October II, Ruth Shepard Horton, by DR.
Weller.
The last case had been sick week, bu
was not reported until some time aftel
the child's death. During its illness tht
neighbours children were permitted tt
visit the little sufferer, and just few
hours before death an eight-yesr old sol
of neighbor was in the room and in clos
contact with the sick child. The child
family and the neighbour
were ignorant of the character of tn
maledy until Wednesday night at 8 O'Clock
and the child died at 2 O'Clock in tn
morning. The doctor had not told them
A glance over the register is the cit.
physicians Office disclosed to the reporte
that many cases known to The STATES,
MAN and published in the weekly deati
report were not upon its pages.
It is evident that screw is loose some
where, and the powers that be should SCI
to it that the law regulating the matter Il
rigidly enforced.
1t is the imperative duty of each physi
clan, Immediately on being called Il
treat child, and if he discovers it is dlph
liberia, to flag the premises and report Tn