The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-08

Diphtheria, Typhoid and Other Fevers Break
ing Out In the Valley.

ing Out In the Valley.
JOHNsTOwN, Pa, June Tt is feared at
the Red Cross Corps headquarters that the
flood has left parting curse lowering over
the Conemaugh valley in the form of the
dread Observation-Disclosures. The attention of
the medical people has been directed to
Kernville. where the Red Cross makes no
secret of prevailing epidemic. Miss Clara
Barton and DR.. O'Neill. Of the Red Cross,
decided to-day to establish a hospital at
Kernville, and, after much trouble with the
legal authorities, secured site and erected
their hospital tents. with Dr.. Berns, of
Philadelphia, in charge. Tomorrow
morning they will be prepared to receive the
patients, of which there are a large number.
The pneumonia scourge grows alarmingly,
notwithstanding the statements of DR..
Croft, of the State Board of Health. DR..
Sweet, of Philadelphia. a prominent men,
ber of DR.. Groff's staff, came down from
the Cambria Hospital tonight with start
ling report. DR.. Croft had retired, and no
official action could be taken. To your
correspondent DIR. Sweet said: Prospect
Hill is full of pneumonia, with some diph-
liberia and measles. The hospital is full to
Two cases on the outside. They were all Sc
we're cases of pneumonia. There is every con-
dition needed for the spread of the disease,
and fear an epidemic" DR.. Darlington
also reported several cases of pneumonia.
having found them on the hill near Nor
rellville.
DR.. Fussell came in with load of in
formation from the Kernville- bonneville,
district this evening. The cellar of house
on Bedford street vas found filed with wet
clothing. which was full of disease. The
bonfire was brilliant. A butcher shop on
Franklin street was found full of putrid
meats, which was destroyed. Nine horses
and four cows were cremated, making $50
in this district. A row of human feet was
noticed sticking out of the sand ON the
river bank near Kernville. A band of men
soon unearthed the bodies of two men and
one girl, all in good state of preservation
The men were identified as Messrs. Young
and Bantley. The girl was buried among
the great army of unknown"
Two additional cases of typhoid fever
were reported this morning from Miners
dale, making total of seven in that viii
lage alone since yesterday morning
Measles are also becoming considerably
more prevalent on Prospect Hill, where the
refugees camp is established.
Sheriff McCandless thinks the condition
of Johnstown of such serious nature that
the National Board Of Health should take
charge of the sanitary work in order to
give it national character. He says all the
communities living between here and
kIxo NioS ,psrir ri iror ,ufa toI -,
health of this point, which makes this mat
ter one of national interest. He does not
disparage the work of the State board,
however.
ut is our impression" said DIR. r. L
White, assistant to the State Board of
Health, this morning, that there is going
to be great sickness here within the next
week. All this talk about the danger of an
epidemic is not exaggerated, as many sup
pose, but is founded upon all experience.
There will be plenty of typhoid and kim
dred diseases here within a week or ten
days. in my opinion. The only thing that
has saved us thus far has been the cold
weather. That has now given place to
summer weather. and no one knows what
the next few days may bring forth. Even
dIuODS TIC NOIhIucu duQ atttnua0tS Uler6
| Is already discernible a great tendency
to diarrh9a and dysentery. The men are
living principally upon salt meat, and there
is a lack of vegetables. / have been
here since Sunday and have not tasted
fresh meat but once since that time. am
only one of the many. Of course, the worst
has passed for the physicians, as our ar
rangements are now perfected and each
corps will be relieved from time to time
| Twenty more physicians arrived from
p ittsburg this morning, and many of us
will be relieved to-day. But the opinion is
| general among the medical men that there
| Will be more need for doctors in week
| hence than there is now"
DIR. X. l.. Sibbell, of the State Board Of
| Health. is in charge of sanitary headquar-
| ters. I'VE are using every precaution
known to science" said he, this morning
Ito prevent the possibility of epidemic
| Our labors here have not been confined to
any particular channel. but have been ex-
| tended in various directions. Disin-
fectants. OF course, are first in impor-
no sparing hand. The prompt cremation
| of dead animals fast as discovered is
another thing which we have insisted upon.
! We have a committee that superintends
| the burial of the victims at the cemeteries.
| 1t is of the utmost Importance in this whole
sale interment that the corpses should be
| inferred safe distance beneath the sur