The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-10


asking for twenty babies, and promising
that good care Will be taken of the children
II they are sent there.
WILL NOT BECOME EPIDEMIC.
All Sickness In the Valley Fully Under Con.
troll, and No Cause for Alarm.
JoHNsTowN, June 9.-The two large hos.
pitals here have but little to do now. but
the large corps of physicians are kept busy.
At the Cambria Hospital sixteen persons.
injured by the food, were cared for. and
but two died, Miss Maggie Hughes and
Mrs. Willower. Since the food over five
hundred persons have received the atten-
tion of the physicians at this institution.
directly or indirectly caused by the flood.
Several women who nursed some of the in
jured became i'll, and one of them NAV not
recover. At the Bedford Hospital 562 IN
jured persons were cared for, and when
they could be removed were taken to Pitts
burg hospitals. Only three patients were
brought to the hospital to-day. They re-
ceived slight injuries while at work clear
ing away the debris. Over six hundred
persons were furnished medicine and atten-
tion by the physicians in charge of the hos
pItals. The tent hospitals have been prac-
tically abandoned, as none of them have
had a case for several days.
The health of the valley is good, notwith-
standing reports of threatened epidemic.
The following bulletin has been issued by
the State Board of Health, and speaks for
itself. 1t was posted to-day in every con-
spicuous place about the town. The encour-
og r. Io -
wards relieving the anxiety of the manv
thousands of survivors and workingmen in
the stricken valley, who have feared the
outbreak of an epidemic. For this reason
many have deserted the town. The bull
letin reads:
The general condition OF health in Youngstown
and vicinity is excellent. No epidemic disease
Of any kind prevails. nor is IL expected that any
will arise. The whole region has been divided
into convenient districts, and each placed under
q competent sanitarian. The State Board OF
Health is prepared TO meet all emergencies as
they arise. The air is wholesome and the water
generally pure. IL the good people OF the de-
done for the past week in their efforts to clean
up the wreckage, good health VIII certainly be
maintained. GRO. CROFT.
DR.. Croft has made careful inspection
of the drift in the river at the stone bridge.
and reports that there is no probability of
any contamination of the water supply OF
the towns below from this source. He says
that the number of bodies in the river can
not be large. The valleys have been swept 50
clean by the great floods that the river
waters are now purer than before the dis
aster. There is difference in the contain
mating power of decomposing organic mat
ters. That from bodies dead of contagious
disease would be far more dangerous than
that from bodies which were of healthy
persons AS it is, the bodies in the river
are generally covered with from one to six
feet of mud and sand. This earthly matter
absorbs all efhuvia, and acts as the best of
disnfectants. There is no present danger
to the water supply of Pittsburg at Johus-
town. The only present danger Is from
people being frightened into sickness by
sensational reports.
you may state for me.n said the Doctor.
that there are more doctors here than
patients. The general health of the people
in the town is much better than expected.
/ expected moro sickness than there is. L
really looked for an epidemic of some kind.
IL would have broken out, however, before
this time If any was to come, and for this
reason feel perfectly safe in issuing the
above bulletin. There ishardly any typhoid
fever, and but little pneumonia. The fears
of an epidemic of diphtheria are unfonnded.
There are a few cases of sore throat, but
they are not serious enough to cause any
alarm. Every effort is being made to have
people move out of their houses and into
tents. Plenty of tents will be furnished by
the State. Living in tents in the open air
is more conducive TO good health than re-
siding in close, damp houses. The water
is generally good, and the air is pure.
l will say again that residents OF PlttsDurg
and the cities below need not fear to drink
the river water There is no danger of its
being contaminated
Dr. John Smiller and DIR. /. NJ. Strouse
arc in charge of the Red Cross outposts,
which are located in the midst of the ruins.
The flag of the Red Cross on white field
of tents, waving upon the main tent. is a
welcome sign of refuge TO the many work
men who are suddenly stricken while at
work on the ruins. The word Hospital
is feared by them, and they would rather
leave the city than TO enter one. At the
outpost they know they can be prescribed
for and can lay down for while at rest.
None of the cases are very serious--only
ordinary complaints due to change OF
food and water. After short rest they
generally return to their work. The tents
are usually well filled. The tents were
warm and close to-day, but this is due to
much to alleviate the sufferings of the men.
The work of cleaning out cellars and tho
destruction of dead animals was continued
to-day. The working men are disinfecting
themselves by scattering copperas over their
clothing and bed-clothing.
Dr. Darlington. of the United States
marines, and DR.. G.. o. Probst, secretary of
the State Board of Ohio. arrived in Johns
town to-day, and called upon pr. Croft
Governor Beaver. They propose TO helE
DIR Croft in his sanitary labors